2019 Umrah for Orphans
In January 2019, we embarked on the fifth year of our unique Umrah for Orphans programme by taking more than 450 Palestinian orphans to the Holy Lands.
The pilgrimage involved 350 Palestinian orphans from Jordan and 100 from Al Quds (Jerusalem) travelling to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah shareef.
As with all the previous journeys, the orphan boys and girls were accompanied by Islamic Help staff and volunteers from Jordan and the UK, plus some of their widowed mothers.
The first Umrah for Orphans trip was in 2015 and the 2019 pilgrimage means that, thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, more than 2,200 Palestinian orphans – including disabled children – have been on the most memorable journey of their young lives.
Orphans have a special place in Islam. The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah Be Upon Him) was an orphan and he placed special emphasis on caring for orphans. A Hadith recites that he said “The one who cares for an orphan and myself will be together in Paradise like this,” and he held his two fingers together to illustrate.
Umrah for Orphans is part of the psycho-social support we provide for the children being sponsored or cared for in our global orphans’ sponsorship programme. Each pilgrimage has been an exhilarating experience for the children as they have witnessed the majesty of Haram Shareef, performed Tawaf around the Ka’aba and travelled to Madinah to pray in Masjidun Nabi, the mosque of our blessed Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah Be Upon Him).
View the full 25-minute documentary charting the orphans' 2019 Umrah for Orphans pilgrimage.
View the booklet (below) recording the Umrah for Orphans 2019 journey.
Each part of Umrah for Orphans has only been possible thanks to the tremendous support of our donors. Please continue that support and make Umrah for Orphans the life-changing experience that it promises to be for these Palestinian orphans.
Sponsor a Palestinian orphan for Umrah today.
PLEASE NOTE: Your sponsorship payments must be completed in full before a child can go to perform Umrah on your behalf. As the Umrah for Orphans trip is normally organised for January, donations must be complete by the end of December for a child to go the following month.
If, for example, the full sponsorship amount is completed at the end of January, the child will perform Umrah on your behalf at the next trip organised.
