Hajj Pilgrims Head to Arafah as Ministry of Hajj and Umrah Urges Against Overtaking

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has urged Indonesian Hajj pilgrims to avoid overtaking each other and maintain order during their movement to Arafah, which began today, Monday, 25 May 2026.

Ministry spokesperson Maria Assegaf said on Monday: ‘We urge all pilgrims to adhere to the scheduled timings, avoid moving individually, not to overtake their groups, and always follow the instructions of cluster, sector, and religious guidance officers to ensure a smooth and safe process.’

Maria stated that the move to Arafah is a critical phase requiring physical, mental readiness, and discipline from all pilgrims.

To this end, pilgrim movements are divided into three phases at 07:00, 11:30, and 16:30 local time.

Male pilgrims are reminded not to wear stitched clothing that fits the body, cover their heads with tight-fitting headgear such as caps or turbans, or wear footwear that covers the ankles and heels.

‘For female pilgrims, it is prohibited to cover the face with a niqab or wear gloves while in the state of ihram,’ she added.

The ministry also urged all pilgrims to avoid other ihram prohibitions, such as trimming nails, plucking hair, using perfumes after making the ihram intention, and maintaining proper speech and conduct to ensure devout worship.

The first wave of 103,732 pilgrims is organised into 267 clusters.

These pilgrims arrived via Medina Airport between 22 April and 6 May 2026.

The second wave of 98,904 pilgrims, organised into 260 clusters, will arrive via King Abdul Aziz Airport in Jeddah.