As received… Tuna Smash 2 minute noodles Alfredo Pasta Canned beans make baked beans salad Creamstyle corn enjoy with breadRoti; salt, pepper, chopped green chillies Chick peas Make your own version of hummus and enjoy with local breads Mix with salt pepper and chillies Carry spices; salt, pepper, jeero, elachie pod: for yoghurt to flavor n eat Elachie pod is to control thirst in extreme heat Sauces of choicesSpread on bread n slice boiled eggs Carry your own steel cutlery n plastic plates n cups etc Biltong / cold meat slices Buy onions of the country Make a nice salsa n njoy with your breads etc Chip spice Chakalaka is a good choice of your spiced veggies Buy plain cooked rice n enjoy Favourite S.A hot sauceBuy rice or pasta at nyt for next day meals Keep supply of water juice cold drinks etcCrips bread etc Take Epsom salt , pink salt n bicarb n cayyene pepper satchetsEpsom salt for upset tummy aches n pains bruisesLeg soak etc Pink salt -suck on in case of lethargy n low pressure etcBi carb dissolve 1/4 teasp in warm water for upset tummy as well China fruit papaya strips nuts all kinds for munching China fruit pot pourrie Cup a soup Salticrax Rusks biscuits naankhatai Murkhoo Health chevro Take extra padkosEat feed n put away for a rainy day Crumbed chiken kebaabs Mini burgers roti rolls quiche mini pizzas mochachoe strips etc Anything dat can lastDoes not need freezing Peanut butter Sugar tea /coffee /hug in a mug /cremora / Instant oats Homemade chutney /carrot relish etc Tin of chiili baked beans, tuna in satchets, pwdr juices, make a mix of fave masalas, spices, and a pkt of biryani mix spices have little of everthing, cook onions in extra ghee, freeze into small discs, ready to cook. reduce fresh tomatoes, season n freeze mini cheddars,salti cracks, sml packets Tennis to have with tea or coffee etc. Take a can opener Corn flakes comes in handy if u have nothing to eat Tea bags like five roses and rooibos Also the ginger and honey tea comes in very handy when u feeling abit fluish Naan khatai and marie biscuits If u have space take small box juices, like ceres and purejoy. Comes in handy in makkah when going to the haram, just put one in your shoe bag or pocket Also something for Dastarkhan. It is really useful. Especially if more than 2 ppl will be sharing the meals in your hotel room. Sit on floor to eatMake niyyah for sunnah Discussion on @journeytohajj Instagram

Madinah: Spicii Food Madinah +966580395128 Moulana Mohammed Patel Madinah +27827863170 Has a restuarant and delivers Omar’s foods Madinah +27580577604 Aliyah Madinah +966557028132 For food and laundry Pick up and drop off from hotel Excellent service Chicken and kebab recommended Al Madaf Movenpick Butter chicken recommended SA food in Madinah +966540286517 SR30 per portion Movenpick Coffee break Pizzas recommended Al baik restaurant Maryam Nakhooda in Madinah +966505312691 Some options include: Steaks chips, Roast chicken chips, sheek kabaab chips, Kari kichery with aloo fry, dhal rice with chicken or mutton, pastas, Butter chicken, Jill frezi chicken, curry with rice, Akny, biryani etc The olive and chilli Madinah (food made fresh so may take long – consider ordering in advance) Haram gate 25 Free delivery on orders over SR35 (gets busy hajj time may not do deliveries or take long) Pizza and toasted steak was recommended +966580395128 Matam Amal Takeaway Madinah +966549554786 Madinah A lady cooks fresh homemade meal such as daal gosht, biryani, korma, fish, mix sebzi, choley ka salen etc. It’s 15 sr per lunch box/person but good quantity. You can order a day before, whatever you desire for. You get hot food delivered at your hotel doorstep in Madina. Farzana 053 322 3104 Makkah: Salma Gangat Makkah +966569144080 Al tazaj in hyatt Towers also has a pizza and pasta place Makkah In Ibrahim al Khalil Street between the Millenium Hotel (old Hilton Hotel) there is a new building with restaurants with different Food types. On the side of the Millenium Hotel there are takeaway shops that are not too expensive. On the right side of Ibrahim al Khalil Street (going downhill) there is an Al Farooj franchise that sells chicken and beef burgers, chicken (similar to Al Baik), fish, shrimps, juices and fruit salad. Prices are reasonable. Last year I paid SR6 for a large beef burger with chips, cheese, egg and salads. There are also a few lanes and thoroughfares where there are Indian and Pakistani restaurants, where I have bought good, inexpensive food, boeber, A1-type braised sweet Vermicelli, samoosas and daltjies. Aziziah: Amigos pizza Aziziah – they deliver Turkish restaurant called Istanbul in Aziziah-the chicken skewers n rice is very tasty Redaan restaurant in Aziziah The meat is locally sourced and it is a very good place to eat**Compiled May 2019/Ramadaan 1440** The above people/restuarants on this list have been recommended by others who have completed Hajj/Umrah recently. I am not aware of the halal status as there has been some controversy regarding the slaughtering of the meat recently. It is best to find out for yourself or if you have any doubt then it is best to stay away. Allah knows best Faatima Nakhooda Vanker.

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said “A strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer”. We are quick to think of this only in a spiritual sense, but we tend to forget that this also encompasses the physical strength. Hajj is an ultimate test of physical strength, miles and miles of walking, harsh conditions, unknown terrain, hot weather, etc. If you are consumed with bodily feelings, such as aches and pains and discomforts, it’s going to take away from your ibadaa, or your worship and ultimately test your sabr or your patience. If your strong enough to maintain these intense, physical tests, then inshAllah you won’t have physical discomforts to consume your thoughts, and you will be able to focus on your worship. Nadoona has prepared a list of practical tips for preparation for Hajj, during Hajj, and post Hajj. Think of Hajj as if you are going on a hike in the wilderness. You will have uncontrollable conditions, unknown circumstances, and a lot of walking. You must be prepared:   Focus on eating as clean as possible. Eat small meals throughout the day, like your preparing for an athletic event. Give your body the best of what you can now. Eliminate the things you know you shouldn’t be eating. Get walking. Walking outside would be the best, if you cant, use a treadmill, but use an incline.  Total Body Resistance training or strength training. Put emphasis on lower body exercises such as lunges and squats. Strengthen your muscles. Hydration is normally important under most cases, but my understanding is that the restrooms are one of the last places you want to visit on Hajj. Hydrate when you know you have access to facilities. If you can, hydrate morning, afternoon, and night. Then when you get back from Hajj, you can recover with proper hydration. Proper shoes are key. Shoes made for hiking are the best. Keep in mind, your feet well swell at least one size up. So if you are a size 9, then consider buying size 9.5 or 10. Eat just enough to satisfy you to keep you going. Everyone’s Hajj package is different, if your meals are laid our for you and know what you will be served, then choose a protein, carb and fat to make a balanced meal. If you only have access to one meal, your morning meal most important. Lubricate the inside of your thighs. Putting baby oil or Vaseline between your legs from the rubbing in order to prevent chaffing or rash. Remember, our ultimate goal at Hajj is to focus on ibadaa, worship of Allah swt. The less you have to worry about these bodily things, the better you can worship Allah swt the way he deserves to be worshiped. Remember when you get back from Hajj, keep these health and fitness efforts going with proper nutrition and a fitness routine. We are all ultimately on a pilgrimage, on a journey back to Allah swt. Let us all return back to Allah swt with not only strong hearts, but strong bodies. I pray that those who have been blessed to go on Hajj this year have an easy, fruitful and accepted Hajj, and I pray that those who haven’t been granted Hajj yet, be granted it soon. Source: m.zahid Discussion on @journeytohajj Instagram