Hoping for ‘Mabrur’ Haj

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Members of PT Garuda Indonesia’s board of directors wave as a haj flight takes off in the early morning of Sunday (7/7/2019) to Saudi Arabia from Adi Soemarmo International Airport in Boyolali, Central Java. The inaugural haj flight of the Surakarta program carried 358 Muslim passengers from Sukoharjo regency, with the program scheduled to send 34,940 Muslims from Central Java and Yogyakarta to Medina on the haj pilgrimage.

A number of haj pilgrims have landed in Saudi Arabia and await the ritual of haj. Achieving and becoming a mabrur Haj (a blessed haj) is the dream of the entire congregation.

No less than 231,000 Indonesians will depart for haj this year, including the additional quota of 10,000 that President Joko Widodo received last April. Based on the records of the Haj Financial Management Agency (BPKH), up to May 2019, the number of prospective pilgrims who are now waiting for departure is 4,341,969 people. If the quota does not increase, the pilgrims must wait around 20 years for haj.

Every year, more than 300,000 register so that by 2025 there will be an estimated 7.2 million prospective haj trips. As a result, the waiting time for each member of the congregation will be longer. The waiting time for each congregation varies in each region.

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

Muslim passengers from Magetan regency board a haj flight early Saturday morning (7/7/2019) at Surabaya Juanda International Airport in Sidoarjo, East Java. The local haj program transported 450 Indonesian Muslims to Medina.

On the other hand, the government continues to work to improve services for the congregation. This year, some Indonesian congregations will enjoy the fast-track immigration facility at Amir Muhammad bin Abdulaziz Airport, Medina, starting on Sunday (7/7/2019). There are at least five batches from two embarkations out of a total of 70,000 members of the congregation who will enjoy this fast track service.

Performing haj is not easy. Unlike umrah (minor haj), which can be done at any time, haj must be performed at a specific time and carries strict procedures. This requires excellent physical and mental condition. Naturally, the government continues to strive to improve service every year. This is important so that the congregation can worship calmly, comfortably and safely. We hope that there will be no more complaints regarding the place of residence, food or other things that can disturb the worshipers\' devotion.

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Muslim pilgrims load their suitcases while boarding an airport bus early Saturday morning (7/7/2019) at Adi Soemarmo International Airport in Boyolali, Central Java. The inaugural haj flight of the Surakarta program carried 358 pilgrims from Sukoharjo regency to Medina.

A sincere and solemn intention in carrying out the haj pilgrimage is part of the prerequisite for the congregation to achieve the title of mabrur haj. The pilgrims who return to the country bring faith and piety, not souvenirs.

All pilgrims want to achieve the mabrur haj, the pilgrimage that is accepted by Allah SWT. What needs to be remembered, God has set a criterion for a mabrur haj, namely good relations with fellow human beings. It aims to build a good attitude and respect for others and make them as our common life, which is reflected in, among other things, the declining hoaxes amid this "noisy" situation.

Preparations have been made well by the government. The only thing left is the preparation of all congregations to worship solemnly in the Holy Land, including preparation for maintaining health.

KOMPAS/RHAMA PURNA JATI

An elderly couple prepares to board a haj flight departing on Sunday (7/7/019), which carried 443 pilgrims from Palembang, South Sumatra, to. Medina.

We hope that the pilgrims will also pray for Indonesia to be free from misleading news, so that all energy can be devoted to improving our welfare and national life.