Haj pilgrimage for pregnant women

Haj pilgrimage for pregnant women

From Kompas

A number of mass media publications have published the government's statement that pregnant women can go on haj pilgrimage as long as their pregnancy is between 14 and 26 weeks. The haj pilgrimage is the heaviest physical religious duty for a Muslim, the performance of which will require a person to be in prime condition (just check the mortality rate in previous years, which ranges between 600 and 800 people).

Pregnancy during the haj pilgrimage can be very risky. Pregnancy, however, is a noble obligation that a woman, by her nature, is supposed to go undergo.

If there is miscarriage, the pilgrimage of the woman concerned will be aborted and this means spending money for nothing. If she starts bleeding, she may not be able to receive immediate medical attention, besides upsetting the others pilgrims.

Therefore, women who are expecting should postpone their haj pilgrimage. Besides, looking after children, which is commissioned by Allah, is a more important obligation than going on a haj pilgrimage considering the risks.

DR. H. MUSLIM GUNAWAN

Bhineka Bakti Husada

Tangerang, West Java