Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah urges pilgrims to get plenty of rest ahead of Hajj peak

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak has urged Indonesian prospective Hajj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia to get plenty of rest and not to overexert themselves with excessive worship or city sightseeing ahead of the peak of the Hajj implementation.

“Once again, this needs to be noted, it might be an important point. Pilgrims in Saudi must get plenty of rest,” said Dahnil in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Dahnil asked the media to help socialise the importance of maintaining the physical condition of pilgrims during the Hajj pilgrimage, especially in the midst of extreme hot weather in Saudi Arabia.

According to him, government data shows that the majority of Hajj participants who have passed away or experienced heat stroke actually come from the productive age group, not the elderly.

Pilgrims aged 40 to 50 tend to feel they are still strong, so they force their worship activities without paying attention to their body condition. In the end, their bodies become exhausted and illnesses arise.

“Those who suffer a lot from heat stroke are aged 40-50, because they push themselves,” said Dahnil.

“So, do not force yourself to perform worship, staying healthy is what is important,” he said.

Previously, Dahnil stated that the number of Hajj participants who have passed away in the Holy Land up to now has experienced a significant decrease compared to the same period in last year’s Hajj season.

“On the same date last year, the number who passed away was 46 to 48 people. Well, this year it has dropped drastically, on the same date this is 24 people,” said Dahnil at the Pondok Gede Hajj Dormitory in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Dahnil said that the decline in the death rate of pilgrims is inseparable from the tightening of health checks or istithaah health for prospective Hajj pilgrims before departure.