The departures marked the start of the 2022 pilgrimage. It will be the first time Muslims from outside Saudi Arabia are allowed to perform the haj since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
By
KOMPAS EDITOR
·3 minutes read
AP PHOTO/AMR NABIL
Saudi police women, who are recently deployed to the service, from right to left, Samar, Alaa, and Bashair, stand alert in front of the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, during the annual hajj pilgrimage, in the Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca, Tuesday, July 20, 2021.
The first batch of Indonesian pilgrims left for Saudi Arabia on Saturday morning (4/6/2022). They will go first to Medina before continuing to Mecca to perform the haj.
The following batches of pilgrims will be gradually sent from haj dormitories in a number of cities in Indonesia over the following days. Several days ago, hundreds of people from the Hajj Organizing Committee (PPIH) left for Saudi Arabia to prepare for the arrival of the pilgrims. They were located in several working areas in Medina, Mecca and the airport in Jeddah.
The departures marked the start of the 2022 pilgrimage. It will be the first time Muslims from outside Saudi Arabia are allowed to perform the haj since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020 and 2021, Saudi Arabia allowed only local residents to perform the haj.
The solemnity of the congregation in conducting all the haj rituals from beginning to end, such as tawaf, sa'i, wukuf, jamarat and tahallul in Mecca and the pilgrimage to Medina, should be maintained.
We all hope that the fifth pillar of Islam will go smoothly and that the haj ritual will be safe and blessed. The services and facilities in Indonesia and Saudi Arabia should be well prepared so that the congregation can worship safely, as the COVID-19 pandemic has not yet ended. The solemnity of the congregation in conducting all the haj rituals from beginning to end, such as tawaf, sa'i, wukuf, jamarat and tahallul in Mecca and the pilgrimage to Medina, should be maintained.
In order to ensure this year’s pilgrimage runs smoothly, especially for Indonesian pilgrims, the Religious Affairs Ministry has prepared a number of activities for the pilgrims, including haj guidance, transportation, lodging, meals and other services. The preparatory work began just after Saudi Arabia decided to admit Muslims from other countries, although in limited numbers, to participate in this year’s haj.
AP PHOTO/AMR NABIL
Pilgrims on their way to Mecca enter the Haramain High-Speed Railway station in the holy city of Medina Saudi Arabia, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019. Hundreds of thousands of Muslims have arrived in the kingdom to participate in the annual hajj pilgrimage, which starts Friday, a ritual required of all able-bodied Muslims at least once in their life.
This year, the number of pilgrims is much smaller than usual. The Saudi Arabian government has allowed only 1 million Muslims, foreign or domestic, to perform the haj this year, or half of the pre-pandemic figure. This year, Indonesia has a haj quota of 100,051 people. Of the total, 92,825 are regular pilgrims, 7,226 are special pilgrims and 1,901 are haj officers.
Pilgrims must be under 65 years of age and must have received COVID-19 vaccinations approved by the Saudi Health Ministry. Pilgrims from outside Saudi Arabia must also submit negative COVID-19 PCR test results taken within 72 hours of the time of departure.
Members of the congregation who are at high medical risk will be monitored intensively.
The Indonesian Health Ministry also uses the TeleJemaah application and smart wristbands to monitor the health of the congregation, such as heart rate, oxygen saturation and drinking time warnings to avoid dehydration. Members of the congregation who are at high medical risk will be monitored intensively.
All these efforts are expected to reduce the death rate. According to data from the ministry’s Haj Health Center, the death rate for Indonesian pilgrims averages 2 people per 1,000. This is the highest number in the world. The government hopes to bring the death rate down to 1 person per 1,000 per year.
From the congregation's perspective, all are expected to prepare and maintain their health while worshiping in Saudi Arabia. With a good physical condition, all rituals can be performed effectively. After the pilgrimage, the congregation can return to the country safely.
(This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi)
