Hajj Auction Ticket Idea: Between a Solution to Break the Queue and Access Justice

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The discourse on Hajj ticket auctions has emerged as an idea amid the long queues of prospective pilgrims, but it also raises issues of access justice.

Indonesian Hajj pilgrims need to queue for years. The latest waiting period has been standardised to 26 years in every province in line with the newest policy from the Ministry of Hajj.

The auction ticket discourse surfaced following remarks by the Minister of Hajj and Umrah (Menhaj), Mochamad Irfan Yusuf, at the Opening of the National Consolidation Meeting on the Implementation of Hajj Worship for 1447 H/2026 AD, held at the Tangerang Hajj Hostel on Wednesday (8/4/2026).

The government, according to Irfan, is beginning to review the existing system to find solutions for tackling the long queue problem, in line with the increasing number of registrants each year accompanied by quota limitations.

This step also aligns with the principle of istitaah, or ability, in performing the Hajj pilgrimage, which Ade Marfuddin interprets as relating to the current moment, without connection to a moment years later.

“Hajj must be based on istitaah. Well, that ability is tested in the form that people who are willing to depart that year are ready to pay the ticket and go directly. Not through a scheme that delays until 26 years,” said Ade when contacted by Kompas.com on Monday (13/4/2026).

Those who depart would be those capable of paying according to the Hajj Worship Implementation Cost (BPIH) set by the government.

To date, said Ade, the category of capable pilgrims has only been evident among special Hajj pilgrims whose services are handled by Special Hajj Operators (PIHK).

Last year, the special Hajj quota was set at 16,305 people, or typically around 17,000 people, encompassing 8 percent of the national total quota.

“Well, this (those departing) could be people from the BPKH queue of 5.4 million, could be from the PIHK queue of 7-8 people, could be new people who have the money. Well, the positive of this is that we will erode and emphasise people’s ability from the BPIH side,” said Ade.

He categorised ribawi in the value of subsidised Hajj benefits from the value of benefits for 5.7 million prospective Hajj pilgrims cumulatively, with total management around Rp 170 trillion.

Recorded at the end of 2024, these managed funds grew to Rp 171.65 trillion.