Jakarta, IO – The first batch of hajj pilgrims from Indonesia will depart to Saudi Arabia on 4 June 2022. After a two-year hiatus, caused by the pandemic, Saudi Arabia has unlocked its gates, to welcome one million hajj pilgrims from all over the world, a steep dive from the 2.5 million allowed entry in 2019. Indonesia itself has been granted entry for 100,051 of its citizens, or only 50% of the number of pilgrims leaving in the hajj season right before the pandemic. Nevertheless, this is a cause for gratitude, because Indonesia has been given the biggest pilgrim entry quota in the world.
Going on a hajj pilgrimage is a dream lovingly cherished by all Muslims. The only requirement for the ritual imposed by our Prophet Muhammad, PBUH, is istithaah (capability). When asked, he declared that istithaah signifies “supplies” and “means of transportation”. “Supplies” here means food and drink, health, money and knowledge about how to perform the rituals. “Means of transportation” is how a person can get to Saudi Arabia to perform the hajj ritual on time. Initially, it just refers to the mode of transportation itself, whether on foot, by horse, camel, or ship. Now, it is extended to include “permit for entry into the country” by being listed in the hajj quota for one’s home country.
“The hajj is a relatively expensive ritual. However, demand is so high that the waiting list for prospective Indonesian pilgrims extends for literally decades. This is especially true in Kalimantan, which has an extremely long waiting list, because this densely-populated region also contains many wealthy families. The purpose of going on the hajj pilgrimage is safety, health, mabrur or purification in the preparation and performance of the ritual, extending to living an upright and blessed daily life back home, and happiness. Not only are you guaranteed your spot in Heaven, if your ritual is a success in terms of mabrur, you will enjoy the benefits for the remainder of your life back in the Homeland,” explained Dr. dr. Probosuseno, Sp. PD – KGer, FINASIM, S.E., M.M., member of the Indonesian Hajj Medics Association (Perhimpunan Kedokteran Haji Indonesia – “Perdokhi”) Central Management, in the “Hajj Special” health webinar held last Thursday (19/05/2022).
Prospective hajj pilgrims must be financially capable (i.e. they will still be able to afford to live normally and decently back home after finishing the hajj ritual), physically capable (as the ritual itself contains a number of physically strenuous activities), and mentally capable (sane, adult, and thoroughly familiar with and understanding the rites of the manasik). Dr. Probosuseno declares that a person cannot go on a hajj pilgrimage if they are ill, poor, or mentally impaired (whether insane, senile, or otherwise mentally deficient), “Any and all of these conditions will make the person susceptible to the manifold temptations that will render their hajj useless. In medical terms, the pilgrim must have a good memory, not be senile; be independent in performing their daily activities; and mentally strong. They must prepare themselves properly in order to be able to perform all parts of the ritual correctly, so they may return to their Homeland safely.”
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The good doctor went on to explain how our Ministry of Health divides hajj pilgrims into four categories, according to their medical and mental fitness: fully satisfies the istithaah health requirements for hajj pilgrimage; satisfies the istithaah hajj health requirements but must be accompanied; temporarily unable to satisfy istithaah hajj health requirements; and permanently unable to satisfy istithaah hajj health requirements.
The hajj pilgrims in the first group are judged to be able to perform the entirety of the hajj ritual without the assistance of medications, equipment, and/or other persons, with a physical fitness level at least “sufficient”, according to the results of an individual medical checkup.