Hajj Rituals Conclude as Pilgrims Prepare for Tawaf Ifadah and Sa'i

Following the days of Tashreeq on 11th, 12th, and 13th Dhu al-Hijjah, millions of Hajj pilgrims are expected to perform the Tawaf ritual. Tawaf Ifadah is a mandatory rite for Hajj to be valid and cannot be substituted with a penalty (dam). Therefore, on Monday, June 1st, all pilgrims yet to complete Tawaf Ifadah and Sa’i are urged to do so immediately. To prevent Indonesian Hajj pilgrims from being left behind after the Tawaf ritual, Hajj officers began door-to-door assistance on Monday afternoon, June 1st. “Officers are also actively locating pilgrims, with special assistance provided for the elderly, sick, and disabled to complete their Hajj rituals,” said H Abdullah AR, Hajj and Umrah Guidance Officer at KBIHU Ibnu Mas’ud Aceh. Abdullah AR stated that most pilgrims have already performed Tawaf Ifadah and Sa’i, completing their Hajj rituals. Hajj officers also advise pilgrims to rest adequately for recovery after the peak rituals to avoid exhaustion. “Similarly, those with disabilities, the elderly, and the sick should wait for the appropriate time to perform Tawaf Ifadah and Sa’i, especially with the aid of wheelchairs and push assistance,” he added. Indonesian Hajj pilgrims immediately began performing Umrah upon arriving in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, with the first group starting rituals at the Masjidil Haram. The repatriation phase for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims from the Holy Land to Indonesia began on June 22, 2024. To facilitate pilgrims performing Tawaf Ifadah, the Hajj Service Officers (PPIH) have reinstated the Selawat bus service. Hajj pilgrims are nearly completing all rituals. Those opting for the early departure (nafar awal) have finished the stoning of the Jamarat at Ula, Wusta, and Aqabah. A total of 378 Hajj pilgrims from the first 2026 batch arrived in Surabaya, out of 380 pilgrims and officers who departed for the Holy Land. According to the arrival schedule, Cluster 1 carrying pilgrims from Probolinggo Regency will land at 8:25 PM WIB. The Ministry of Hajj (Kemenhaj) has commenced the first repatriation wave for 2026 Hajj via Jeddah. Pilgrims are prohibited from carrying Zamzam water in luggage and advised to maintain health. According to Jaenal, commercial areas are being managed through more structured tenant arrangements to meet pilgrims’ needs. Samsimar, an 82-year-old Hajj pilgrim from Batam, expressed longing for rendang and joked about matchmaking hotel staff in Mecca with his child upon return.