We're Off to Make 'Umrah.

We're Off to Make 'Umrah. We're Off to Make 'Umrah Sana Munchey, author Eman Salem, illustrator Kube Publishing / The Islamic Foundation Markfield Conference Centre, Ratby Lane, Markfield, Leicestershire,LE67 9S Y, UK info@kubepublishing.com 9780860374589, $10.95, www.kubepublishing.com Written in easy to remember verse, with perky color illustrations,"We're Off to Make 'Umrah" is a child'snarrative to help understand the experience of performing 'Umrah bya devout Muslim family. A boy and his family make a journey to a sacredsite to perform 'Umrah together. There are many special prayers andsteps along the journey. Children are encouraged not to complain during'Umrah. After a long plane flight and a bus ride, the boy arrivesat Makkah, or Mecca. He and his father and mother and sister circle theKa'bah seven times around to complete their tawaf. As they go, theyrepeat du'as, special prayers and sayings. They see the footprintsof Maquam Ibrahim, their long distant forefather. Afterwards they find aspecial refreshing drink called zamzam water, then go on to Safa andMarwa. Again they climb and offer prayers and du'a, then run downlike Hajar, who looked for water for her thirsty son. They run seventimes between two hills, then their sa'i is finished. Afterwardsthe men get their hair shaved off in remembrance and the women cut off abit of their hair. They change from their ceremonial clothing of ihram,and they are through with their 'Umrah experience. Next they visitMadinah to see the city of light and home of the Prophet. One day theywill make Hajj, another sacred visit and ritual experience in a holyplace. "We're Off to Make 'Umrah" contains aglossary and illustrated foldout poster with paper dolls of a boy and agirl both ordinary everyday clothes and sacred garments of ihram. Theposter contains a praise prayer to Allah and a list of 11 steps tomaking 'Umrah. "We're Off to Make 'Umrah" is anexcellent and fun children's descriptive book about a very specialsequence of religious practices and observances common to Muslimseverywhere. It is easily accessible to children age 8 and up.