Hon. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella of the National Grand Coalition (NGC) party has completed his pilgrimage in the holy land of, Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

He completed his Umrah on 20 January 2023 with a Juma prayers at the al-Masjid an-Nabawī in Madina.

Before leaving Madina for Freetown, Dr. Yumkella and some other pilgrims were hosted by the executive of the Sierra Leone Students Association in Madina.

The ʿUmrah is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca that can be undertaken at any time of the year, in contrast to the Ḥajj, which has specific dates, according to the Islamic lunar calendar.

Umrah requires Muslims to perform two key rituals Tawaf and Sa’I and is considered the lesser pilgrimage and is not compulsory but it’s still highly recommended.

Umrah is the name given to a pilgrimage to Mecca, a shorter version of the annual Hajj gathering. The word “Umrah” in Arabic means “visiting a populated place”.

Umrah offers an opportunity for Muslims to refresh their faith, seek forgiveness and pray for their needs. One who performs it is said to be cleansed of their sins.