* About 105 pilgrims visit Makkah, Madinah historical and religious sites
* Unveils November, December packages
One of Nigeria’s leading Hajj and Umrah operators, Hajj Mabrur Ventures Limited, has concluded its September 2026 Umrah programme, with about 105 pilgrims from Nigeria and the diaspora completing their spiritual activities in Makkah and Madinah before commencing preparations to return to their respective countries.
The programme, which formed part of the company’s September/October Splash Bonanza, brought together pilgrims who travelled to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah, visit significant Islamic sites and deepen their understanding of the history and rites associated with the two holy cities.
Muslim News gathered that the experience also provided an opportunity for the pilgrims to appreciate the religious heritage, infrastructure and arrangements supporting millions of visitors to Makkah and Madinah from different parts of the world.
Pilgrims perform Umrah, visit Islamic heritage sites
The pilgrims began their spiritual journey upon arrival in Madinah, the City of Light, on September 31, under the guidance of Hajj Mabrur officials led by Manager, Travel and Logistics, HMV Travel & Logistics, Alhaji Yusuf Adeyemo, and Operations Officer, Abuja, Alhaji Abdulhameed Adelakin.
Adeyemo and Adelakin told Muslim News that the programme combined the performance of Umrah with visits to significant Islamic heritage sites and sessions designed to prepare the pilgrims for the rites of pilgrimage.
In Madinah, the pilgrims visited Masjid Quba, the first mosque built by Prophet Muhammad (SAW), Mount Uhud, the site associated with the historic Battle of Uhud, Masjid Qiblatain, known as the Mosque of the Two Qiblahs, and the Ajwa Centre.
They also attended a lecture on the rites of Umrah, the lesser pilgrimage to Makkah, before travelling to the holy city on October 4.
Upon arrival in Makkah, the pilgrims performed Tawaf, the ritual of circumambulating the Ka’bah seven times, and Sa’i, the ritual walk between the hills of Safa and Marwah.
They subsequently completed Halq, the shaving of the head, or Taqsir, the shortening of the hair, marking the completion of their Umrah rites.
According to the two Hajj Mabrur officials, the pilgrims also visited Jabal Thawr, Mount Thawr; Jabal Arafah, Mount Arafah; Jabal al-Rahmah, the Mount of Mercy; Jabal Nur, the Mountain of Light; Muzdalifah; Mina; and the Jamarat, the three pillars symbolising the stoning ritual performed during Hajj.
The visits gave the pilgrims an opportunity to learn about places closely associated with the life of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), early Islamic history and the rites of Hajj and Umrah, while combining worship with historical learning and reflection.
Pilgrims prepare for return
Muslim News learned that following the completion of their major spiritual and sightseeing activities in Makkah, the pilgrims also participated in departure preparations and an interactive session ahead of their return journey.
The October 10 session provided an opportunity for pilgrims to receive guidance on their departure arrangements and other matters relating to the final stage of their stay in the Kingdom.
The Nigerian pilgrims are expected to return home, while pilgrims who travelled from other countries are to proceed to their respective destinations.
The final stage of the programme marked the conclusion of a journey that brought together Muslims from different backgrounds and locations, united by the shared objective of performing Umrah in Makkah and visiting the holy sites in Madinah.
Pilgrims commend guidance, organisation
Speaking with Muslim News, Alhaji Sadiq Afinah praised Hajj Mabrur Ventures Limited for the organisation of the programme, particularly the availability of scholars who guided pilgrims through the religious aspects of the journey.
“By God’s grace, when we first arrived in Medina, God took care of us, and they provided us with knowledgeable scholars who guided us step-by-step through our journey and explained everything to us clearly,” he said.
Afinna also highlighted the historical visits organised in Madinah.
“After that, they took us on historical tours to significant Islamic sites. Among the places we visited were the battlefield of Uhud, Masjid al-Qiblatain and Masjid Quba, along with several other historical places that exceeded our expectations,” he said.
He said his previous experience of travelling to the holy cities enabled him to appreciate the arrangements made for the group.
“Personally, having been here before, when we arrived in Medina and later Mecca, I noticed that this agency operates with total dedication, care and attention to detail,” he said.
According to him, the pilgrims also received guidance on the performance of the major Umrah rites.
“By God’s grace, we met with the scholars who guided us in performing Tawaf and Sa’i between Safa and Marwah, and all other essential rites of Umrah,” Afinna said.
He prayed for the continued success of Hajj Mabrur Ventures Limited and its management.
Accommodation close to Haram
For some pilgrims, the location of their accommodation in Makkah was another notable part of the experience.
One of the pilgrims, while showing the surroundings of the hotel, expressed satisfaction with its proximity to Masjid al-Haram.
“Here is our accommodation. It’s not too far from the Haram. We are on the 20th floor. If you follow this road down, you will exit through a hotel shortcut. Wallahi, look at that over there,” she said, pointing at the television screen in the room showing live coverage of pilgrims performing Tawaf around the Ka’bah.
Hajj Mabrur opens November Umrah
Following the September/October programme, the company has announced a November 2026 Umrah package, which it described as a reload of the Splash Bonanza.
The Head of Business Development and Marketing at Hajj Mabrur Ventures Limited, Imam Adebayo Monsur, said the November programme was introduced in response to demand from Muslims who were unable to participate in the September/October trip.
“The November Umrah is a reload of the Splash Bonanza of September/October. It is reloaded to come up November 11th and return November 22nd. It is by popular demand,” he said.
Monsur said the company had continued to receive enquiries from prospective pilgrims interested in taking advantage of the package.
“As I speak, a lot of numbers are on our lines—almost over 50 again. A lot of people really want to see how they can actualise their dream of going for Umrah,” he said.
He explained that the decision to reopen the package was also part of the company’s effort to give back to society by making pilgrimage accessible to more Muslims.
December package targets families
Beyond the November programme, Hajj Mabrur is also planning a December family Umrah package aimed at parents seeking to use the holiday period for spiritual development and Islamic learning with their children.
Monsur said the initiative was designed to offer families an alternative to spending the festive period solely on conventional holiday activities.
He explained that the programme would combine Umrah with Islamic learning, historical visits and activities designed to help children understand the significance of the pilgrimage.
The proposed package would also provide opportunities for families travelling through selected airlines to have stopovers in destinations such as Dubai, Doha or Cairo, depending on their travel arrangements.
According to him, the idea is to make the journey educational and memorable for children while introducing them to Islamic history and the significance of Makkah and Madinah.
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