Haj Pilgrims’ Safety is the Main Priority

Kompas

In this photo released by Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Muslims pray around the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, during the first day of Umrah in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020. A very small, limited number of people donning the white terrycloth garment symbolic of the Muslim pilgrimage circled Islam\'s holiest site in Mecca on Sunday after Saudi Arabia lifted coronavirus restrictions that had been in place for months.

The government has decided not to send pilgrims to Mecca this year. The safety of the pilgrims is the most important thing. Pilgrims can get a refund on their travel and accommodation payments.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The government has decided not to send pilgrims for this year’s haj season. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic that is still engulfing the world and the emergence of new coronavirus variants, the safety of the pilgrims is the main priority. In addition, until now, the Saudi Arabian government has not determined a quota for Indonesian pilgrims.

Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas announced the cancellation of the departure of Indonesian pilgrims for 2021 at a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday (3/6/2021).

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Also present at the press conference were the chairman of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives , Yandri Susanto, the secretary-general of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Amirsyah Tambunan, the secretary-general of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Helmy Faisal Zaini, and Haj Fund Management Agency (BPKH) head Anggito Abimanyu.

Singapore has also canceled the haj this year. As reported by The Straits Times, Singapore\'s Islamic Religious Council (Muis) said on Thursday May 27 that the sending of the pilgrims from Singapore had to be suspended due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.

The cancellation of the Indonesian haj pilgrimage this year is stipulated in Religious Affairs Ministerial Decree No. 660/2021 concerning cancellation of haj pilgrims’ departure for 2021.

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Amirsyah appreciated the Religious Affair Ministry’s decision to cancel the sending of pilgrims for the 2021 haj for the sake of the safety of the pilgrims amid the resurgence of COVID-19 cases and the emergence of new coronavirus variants.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas during a press conference on the cancellation of the departure of pilgrims for the year 1442 H/2021 at the Ministry of Religion Office, Central Jakarta, Thursday (3/6/2021).

Helmy said the largest Islamic organization backed the government\'s decision to cancel the sending of haj pilgrims this year. The government had tried its best to lobby and conduct diplomacy for the sending of Indonesian pilgrims, he said."Let\'s accept the government\'s decision and I believe that this is the best," he said.

Helmy added that going on haj was part of a Muslim’s religious duty. However, this form of worship can be postponed in an emergency situation, and the COVID-19 pandemic continues to threaten public health and safety.

The secretary-general of Muhammadiyah, Abdul Mu\'ti, earlier called on the government to cancel the sending of haj pilgrims amid concerns over the safety and health of the pilgrims due to COVID-19. (Kompas, 2/6)

In-depth discussion

According to Yaqut, the government decided to cancel the departure of Indonesian pilgrims this year after holding in-depth discussions with various parties, including the House’s Commission VII, religious scholars, leaders of Islamic organizations, haj and umrah (minor haj) organizers, haj travel agencies and the BPKH. He said the government had also been in contact with the Saudi Arabian government and had prepared health protocols for pilgrims at local accommodation facilities before they depart to the Holy Land.

"Our system was ready. Dormitories and health protocols had been prepared to prevent COVID-19 transmission," Yaqut said.

However, the government had to cancel the sending of pilgrims as the COVID-19 pandemic had not subdued, not only in Indonesia but also in other countries.

According to Yaqut, the haj is obligatory for Muslims who are economically and physically capable, but there should be a guarantee about the health, safety and security of the pilgrims during the journey to Saudi Arabia. The COVID-19 pandemic has put the health and safety of pilgrims at risks, he said.

Saudi Arabia has also not given Indonesia access to the country’s 2021 haj service, despite the fact that Indonesia needs time to prepare for the haj pilgrimage.

Due to the pandemic, the Saudi Arabian government has not invited the Indonesian government to discuss the preparations for the 2021 haj. Saudi Arabia has also not given Indonesia access to the country’s 2021 haj service, despite the fact that Indonesia needs time to prepare for the haj pilgrimage.

Haj fund

Yaqut explained that pilgrims registered both under regular and special schemes who had paid for the travel and accommodation costs for the pilgrimage (BPIH) would be allowed to go on the haj in 2022. They can also get back the money or keep it in a BPKH account as 2022 haj payment.

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.

In accordance with the ijtimak (opinion) of the MUI Fatwa Commission in 2021, it is stipulated that the haj funds of prospective pilgrims on waiting lists are regulated under sharia provisions. Funds for prospective pilgrims who do not out of their own accord or die must be returned.

"If we send pilgrims next year, the people whose pilgrimage was canceled this year would be prioritized to depart next year," said Amirsyah Tambunan.

The chairman of the House’s Commission VIII, Yandri Susanto, said news claiming that Indonesia had to cancel this year’s pilgrimage because of unpaid debts for accommodation in Saudi Arabia was a hoax.

"The bottom line is that there is no problem with the money," he said.

Anggito said that as of 2020, the number of prospective pilgrims registered under a regular scheme who had paid for BPIH travel and accommodation costs reached a total of 196,865 people, with total payments of Rp 7.05 trillion (US$492.32 million). Meanwhile, the number of the prospective pilgrims registered under a special scheme who had paid for their BPIH costs totaled 15,084 people, with total payment of $120.67 million.

"Funds are invested and placed in Islamic banks," he said. (ELN/EVY)

(This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi).