RMA SPIRITUAL TOURS, not recommended.

RMA Spiritual Tours

Assalaam alaykum. I’d just like to give a review of RMA tours, just as a PSA. If I could, I would give them zero stars We travelled with Medat (one of the organisers) from JHB to Jordan, to Palestine, then for umrah, from the 12/12/23 - 06/01/24.

I have recordings of Medat promising us we would have an overnight stay in Jordan after our visit to Palestine, as the drive to madinah is long, so this stay would break up the journey as well as give us opportunities to go for Ziyaarat/sight seeing around Jordan. This was the reason we chose his package, because he was pricy, but offered something others didn’t.

When we arrived in Palestine, we were told that he just learned that it is a holiday on the day we plan to leave, and he did not prior research to educate himself on this, so we will not be staying in Jordan, but instead, we’ll have an extra night in Palestine. I wouldn’t mind this normally, but like I said, I chose RMA for the extras they promised.

This is the first thing he disappointed us with.

In Palestine, there were meetings/outings and people were telling us about it but no message was sent on the group and we weren’t informed by any of the organisers. Already we felt as if we were not welcome in this group.

We left Palestine at 8.30am on Sunday, 17/12/23 We drove for more than 24hrs. Keep in mind that Medat knew her had elderly people on the bus, he knew he had kids on the bus, and he knew that there were plenty of Hanafis on the bus despite he himself being Shafi’i. Still, we made minimal stops, he would tell the group to join their salaahs, (only permissible for Shafi’is not Hanafis) so quite a few salaahs of ours were missed because he didn’t want to make “unnecessary” stops. Apart from the salaahs and the border, we didn’t get an opportunity to stretch our legs or anything else. Similar to Ziyaarat with him, we also didn’t even stop for food. (We did get something the next morning, when we stopped for fajr) We arrived in madinah at 9.15am on Monday 18/12/23

This drive was the second thing that not only my family was upset with, others were as well.

I book hotels for umrah when my family and I go usually, so I know the prices of hotels. The hotel we were given had dirty bathrooms, the rooms had layers of dust as if only cleaned once a year, and the staff was extremely unhelpful. The only appealing part of it was its proximity to the haram, even then, it was quite a walk to the ladies entrance. For the price we had paid, this was a huge disappointment. This is number 3 now.

For our ziyaarat in madinah, he gave us 1 included in the package, and 2 that we had to pay for separately.

The unpaid ziyaarat, I did not join, however, one of my family members did, the list of places they’d visit consisted of: Masjied Quba Masjied Qiblatayn Site of the battle of Asghab Site of the Battle of Uhud Al Uhud Shuhadaa Seeing the list, one would think that the Ziyaarah would start from early morning, instead, he left after Zuhr and only managed to visit 2 places on the list. Despite promising more.

The first paid one was to Badr, alhamdulillah, it was interesting, but here again, we missed a salaah, when we told him the time for Asr is passing, KNOWING we are hanafi, he said “Don’t worry, we’ll join the salaahs”. We were not the only Hanafis in the group so this was ridiculous. We reached Jabal Malaa’ikah quite late, we did get to climb it alhamdulillah, however, there was absolutely no consideration for time on Medats part, the bus driver himself was shouting and screaming that we said we’d be done at a certain time and now it’s late. Medat and his family walked around eating ice cream, unbothered.

The second paid one, instead of a bus, we had 3 quantum’s which it seemed, based off of the drivers, he just got off the street and told them where we’d like to go, this was the itinerary: Ghars Ghandak Salman al Fars Wadi Jinn

We were told we’d visit the places in this order, we did not go to Ghars, as it was not the opening time, again, failure on medats part to check the times.

The first place we went to, we were told was Wadi Jinn. I’ve been to Wadi jinn before, this place was a tourist trap, just an area with food stalls and shops etc. A message on the group was sent, asking if this was the place we were visiting and if we would visit the actual “Wadi Jinn” where odd things happen, no reply was given from the organisers. We did not visit Wadi Jinn.

We then visited a place called Masjid Fajr, which was not on the itenerary and which should have been included in the other Ziyaarat as it is Near Masjid Quba.

Thereafter we visited the garden of Salmaan Farsi, for this one, Medat was incredibly uninformed as the well of SF ra was in a gated area at the front of the place we visited, however, he took the group into a date plantation of the peoples which had a pond and irrigation system and told them the tales of the place they were apparently in. The driver who was a local shouted to him in Arabic saying “There’s no significance here! What are you doing! The well is there!” (Pointing to the actual well)

We then went to a masjid called Jaami’ AlKhandaq. I was uninterested at this point so I didn’t hear what he had to say about this place. It was time for zohr when we reached, we were told that we would read Zohr in the haram so we’ll just read nafl salaah here, when in the masjid, everyone read zohr and some were not informed. There was a whole lot of confusion.

This was the fourth thing now that was not up to standard? I’ve lost count at this point.

In madinah, for our Rawdah visit, Medat informed us that one of the group members organised a visit for the woman as the Nusuk app was not working. The group was told to meet in the lobby at 5. When everyone was there, we were told to go back upstairs and bring our passports and visas. Why we were not told this to begin with? Who knows. We proceeded to follow the lady who organised this for us, but there were a few people we were waiting for as they were not getting an elevator as it was already almost Maghrib time. The lady who organised it refused to wait for them, saying we will be late to meet with the person she was communicating with. So the group split, some went with her, some where still waiting for an elevator, and some were waiting for those that hadn’t come downstairs yet. Eventually, 1 person had to run from pillar to post to bring the group together, quite literally making tawaaf of the haram, and in all this time, Medat or any organisers had no concern. Alhamdulillah we made it into the doors of gate 25 which is where we were to meet this person the group member was speaking to. Maghrib time had already passed, now esha time was coming in, and this person was not replying and was no where to be found. Esha time passed, and still, no clue where this person was. It was clear that this lady leading us had no idea what she was doing, so a few of us decided to leave, as the whole circumstances around this Rawdah visit had turned sour and we were no longer in the right mind space. As we were leaving, it was now maybe 9.30pm some group members told us that they had found the gate we can enter through to go inside, so the group went, some did not. Medat had no concern and was of no help during this entire process. Understandable, we were women so he could not take us inside, but the bare minimum would be to take us to the door we were meant to go to just to make sure everything is going smoothly? Or maybe a message to check why the process is taking so long and if everything is okay? Only a message in the beginning to ask if everyone is there was sent, after that, nothing.

We left madinah at 2.30pm on Sunday 24/12/23 We had two busses, as another group for 2 Harams with RMA had joined us. Both organisers were on one bus. The other bus left without any.

Again, we did not make any stops, we had miss our maghrib, being told “We’ll join maghrib and esha.” Again, we were not the only Hanafis, there were quite a few, but no consideration for us was made. Eventually, someone from the bus without any organisers on it, asked someone else if we will make any stops as people were hungry and needed to stretch their legs etc. Only then did we make a stop.

We reached Makkah at 12.13am on Monday 25/12/23 When we reached, we noticed that some members of the group, including Medat, was staying at one hotel, and we were staying at another. That would be fine, only the hotel they others were staying at was much closer to haram. After payment, Medat changed the hotel saying this other one he found is better. Comparing the two, the original one we were told we’d stay in, was better by ALOT.

Okay it’s just a hotel, it doesn’t matter, we are here for Ibaadah anyways.

Except .. the hotel we were staying in had no regard for the Non Smoking rule, so in all the corridors when you’d leave your room was the stench of smoke. Due to this, my entire family fell ill with a throat or chest infection so we were unable to even make it to the haram as the shuttle leaves us a street away from the haram entrance and we have to then walk. I asked reception to change my room because of my asthma and the smoking, they said to tell our “group leader” and then they said “All different kinds of people come here, what can we do.” THERE IS A NO SMOKING RULE IN THE HOTEL AND SEVERAL FIRE ALARMS AND SAFETY MEASURES BUT THERE WAS NO REGARD THAT PEOPLE WERE ACTUALLY SMOKING. The fire alarm, which was right outside by room, would go on ATLEAST 5 time at night, during the day is a different story. I myself sent Medat a message to ask for a new room, he was the other hotel so he said he will ask someone who is at ours to help me. No one assisted. Nothing was done. Out of the 12 days in Makkah, I was sick for 10, and only managed going to the Haram once a day. I would return from the haram unable to breathe and unable to sleep because: 1. The smell of smoke. 2. The fire alarm that would not stop. 3. My own coughing that no matter how much of medication I took, wouldn’t leave because the cause of it was still in the corridors. Again, no concern from our “Group Leader”.

During our stay in Makkah, we were offered a paid Ziyaarat to Ta’if. Because of this, a discussion on the group came up regarding the Hanafi ruling when leaving the boundary and entering again, and the Shafi’i ruling. Alhamdulillah, I do have a little bit of deeni knowledge, and I enquired with multiple ulama, so I was sure about the ruling for Hanafis, so in an attempt to clarify and help others, I decided to send the ruling on the group as this was the message Medat, our group leader sent. Copied and pasted from Whastapp: “Aslm Just to clear up the above. There are different ***ls on the above. It comes down to your intention. If you intend to go site seeing etc and not optional umrah then there is no need to enter into Ihraam. Allah knows best”

This was my message: “For those who follow hanafi fiqh. I’ve checked with multiple hanafi Ulama. There is no difference in opinion for hanafis. If one leaves the boundary of the haram and wishes to enter again, they will have to enter the state of ihram and make umrah. If this is not done, they will have to perform a Qadhaa umrah and pay ****/panalty.

It does not come down to your intention. The sanctity of the haram and ones Madhab/school of belief dictates one’s course of action.

Mufti AK Hoosen and Mufti Isma’eel Bassa, mufti Ibraheem Salajee, mufti Ibraheem desai are some of whom I consulted with”

After this message, he sent a voice note, the gist of it being: “Please keep your opinions to yourself (this is quoted directly) as everyone here is not hanafi and so we will follow and do our ibaadah as we wish, and you do as you wish. Please don’t address this topic on the group as it will confuse the members. If you want to do something, you may do it.”

My reply: “Wa alaykum assalaam. I specified that it is for the Hanafi madhab. One cannot say that actions are based on intention when a ruling is made clear. Once again, I specifically said that it for those that are hanafi, my intention was to educate/clarify, not to confuse. I also said I will inquire about the Shafi’i ruling and post it here as well.”

The members on the group appreciated that I clarified the ruling with proof of Ulama who gave it, and some of them asked for the Shafi’i ruling as well. No one on the group was confused, no one was upset except Medat. If you ask my opinion, I hurt his ego because I corrected him, and he didn’t know how to deal with it.

After my message, another voice note from Medat saying: “Again, please do not speak on this group, this is not the place for this topic, respect others madhab as everyone is not hanafi. You cannot enforce your rulings on everyone.”

The irony in his statement because we missed so many salaahs because of his refusal to accommodate/RESPECT our Madhab?

For me, this was the last straw, as it isn’t just a silly thing like not making it to visit a place during Ziyaarat or a hotel room. This is Ibaadah, it is the line between sin and good, if the hanafi members hadn’t worn ihraam and made and umrah, they’d have had a debt to Allah and never known of it. They’d had passed away with this debt. All because Medat is NOT an aalim but gave a fatwa based off of knowledge I don’t know from where he received.

This was not the first time, he also mentioned Salaahs names in the Asharah Mubasharah that were not part of it?

All of the above, unless stated as my opinion, were facts. I narrated the journey as it happened, I did not add any of my own thoughts or opinions.

Now I’ll give you my opinion. We were the only family in the group that left from Durban and joined the group on the journey, the rest of the group is from Cape Town and surrounds, quite a few of them being relatives or friends of Medat from what I’ve noticed. We paid R43500 per person for this trip, being promised extras for the price, we were happy to pay it. In the end, we regret our decision terrible and would not advise/recommend ANYONE to go with RMA Spiritual Travel and Tours. We feel incredibly cheated and let down, and though we did try to make the best of our circumstances, we were incredible disheartened and lost any hope and excitement we had for this trip. Alhamdulillah for the opportunity we were given to visit the 3 Holy lands, but I make dua that Allah takes us again so we can repent from our shortcomings in this trip BECAUSE of our circumstances that RMA had us in.

I wrote this review before we ended our journey, whilst we were still in Makkah, I told myself I would only post it if the end of the journey goes as bad as the journey itself with regard to Medats planning and execution.

Since my review is up here, you can imagine the disaster that was the ending. Firstly, he had us all wait in the lobby of the hotel from before 6pm, saying that the bus will arrive promptly at 6. The bus arrived after 8pm, and from his phone call that many heard, he knew the bus would only arrive then. The hotel staff bothered us from 2pm saying we need to return our key cards and leave the room because that’s the agreement they had with our “Group leader”.

While we sat in the lobby of our hotel, Medat moved from ours to the other hotel doing who knows what. Eventually the bus arrived, we loaded our bags and waited for Medat to come with the second bus from the other hotel but apparently he had already packed bags to capacity in that bus, but there was still around 40+ suitcases that could not fit into either bus. Medat did not come to this hotel to help and one of the members of the group took charge and organised and paid for a van to take the extra bags to the Jeddah Airport.

We arrived at the airport extremely late, and still had to collect our Zam Zam and check in. When members of the group asked Medat to clarify what was going on, he lashed out at them. A member of the support staff was looking for Medat and when I called him saying someone is looking for our “Group leader”, he said “They can come to me. Have Patience”

We rushed to check in, Medat was the first person to check himself in, not caring about the members of his group. At the check in counter, the staff informed us that due to the airline we were flying with, we would not be allowed to take the Zam Zam that we paid for. Again, Medat did not bother to inquire about this PRIOR to us arriving at the airport. Medat decided to take matters into his own hands and had a few group members send their Zam Zam through without barcodes or luggage tags on them. For someone who claims to be a tour guide/travel agent, he should have known better because I’ve been for Umrah only TWICE and even I knew that luggage tags were needed.

Due to us arriving so late, we had no time to see if we could get a refund for our Zam Zam so we just left it aside and ran to the boarding gates. Alhamdulillah we made it in time.

On the plane, a group member was messaging to say that her husband was not being allowed on the plane because the gates were closed or he was too late, I’m not entirely sure of the full story, but he did get left behind along with another lady, and his wife travelled with 4 kids on her own because our group leader was of no help.

I only post this review to save others from such an experience. May Allah take us to his lands over and over again with aafiyah, and ease. Ameen May Allah forgive me for any mistakes I’ve made in my review or any miscommunication or misunderstandings. This is merely my experience that I’ve narrated as truthfully as possible. Do with it what you will.