Extra Careful Preparations for Haj

KOMPAS/NASRULLAH NARA

ILLUSTRATION: Indonesian pilgrims are greeted with zamzam water when they arrive at the Kiswah Tower Hotel, Jarwal Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Thursday (26/7/2018).

Although haj is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims, it is more intended for those who can afford it and are physically and mentally able to do it.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, people going on haj and umrah (minor haj) must adhere to strict health regulations. From a health perspective, we can understand that the Saudi Arabian government as the organizer of the haj and umrah must be responsible for the safety of the pilgrims and their citizens.

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The Saudi Arabian government confirmed recently it would hold the haj this year, but the number of overseas and local pilgrims would be limited to only 45,000 people and 15,000 people, respectively. However, as of Wednesday evening (2/6/2021), the quota for each country has not been determined. From that figure, if we refer to Indonesia\'s regular quota, which is 8 to 10 percent of the total pilgrims, Indonesia will likely be allowed to send only 5,000 pilgrims.

In addition, Indonesia is currently among the countries whose citizens are not allowed to visit Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia also requires prospective pilgrims to have received vaccines approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), namely AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech, Johnson&Johnson and Moderna. In addition, Indonesia is currently among the countries whose citizens are not allowed to visit Saudi Arabia.

Last year, the Saudi Arabian government canceled the haj pilgrimage due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Haj, like any other form of worship, should prioritize the safety of the people who perform it. Therefore, it is natural if a number of parties, such as Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama, have asked the government not to send pilgrims to Mecca this year. (Kompas, 2/6/2021)

Haj is the dream of most Muslims around the world, including in Indonesia. The list of prospective pilgrims continues to grow from year to year. People save and wait for years to be able to go for haj because the Saudi Arabian government imposes a quota.

AP PHOTO/AMR NABIL

Muslim pilgrims circumambulate around the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, as they keep social distancing to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, during the minor pilgrimage, known as Umrah, in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, May 30, 2021.

With limited time to prepare pilgrims, or less than 50 days from the peak of the haj ritual on July 19, their journey should be prepared extra carefully if Indonesia finally decides to take part in this year’s haj. It is necessary to take into account the time to be spent in isolation when arriving in Saudi, the assignment of special health personnel, as well as the preparation for routine activities, such as haj rituals, lodging, catering, as well as air and local transportation.

Because the number of people who can go on haj is very limited, the selection of participating pilgrims this year should be transparent and based on the registration order. It is better to give priority to those registered under a regular scheme than those under the haj expenditure (ONH) premium service, because there are more of them.

Kompas

A handout picture provided by Saudi Ministry of Media shows Mulism pilgrims resting and eating inside a tent in Mina near the holy city of Mecca during the annual Hajj pilgrimage amid the COVID-19 pandemic, on July 30, 2020. - Muslim pilgrims converged today on Saudi Arabia\'s Mount Arafat for the climax of this year\'s hajj, the smallest in modern times and a sharp contrast to the massive crowds of previous years.

It is the challenge of the Religious Affairs Ministry to ensure that Indonesians going on haj are safe from COVID-19 infection and can carry out the haj rituals perfectly. We hope that in the future, the Religious Affairs Ministry, the Foreign Ministry and the Indonesian ambassador in Saudi Arabia can lobby the Saudi Arabian authorities so that Indonesia will receive better treatment with a larger quota and time certainty so that pilgrims can depart earlier. This is important because Indonesia is a country with the world’s largest Muslim population, and it is not certain when the COVID-19 pandemic will end.

(This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi).