In Medina, Hajj Pilgrims Encouraged to Visit the Prophet's Tomb and Increase Salawat

The supervisor for the 2026 Hajj, KH Abdullah Kafabihi Machrus, has encouraged Indonesian Hajj pilgrims to take the time to visit the maqbarah (tomb) of the Prophet Muhammad SAW at the Al-Nabawi Mosque in Medina. “It is proper etiquette for Muslims performing the Hajj pilgrimage,” he stated at the Regional Hajj Organising Officer’s Office in Makkah on Monday (8/6/2026).

The caretaker of the Lirboyo Islamic Boarding School in Kediri further advised that pilgrims should offer greetings at the Prophet’s tomb, saying, “Assalamualaikum ya Rasulullah.” He also noted that if friends or relatives request a greeting be passed on, pilgrims should say, “Assalamualaikum ’an fulan ya Rasulullah.”

In addition to performing Arbain—the practice of performing forty consecutive congregational prayers—he recommended that pilgrims in Medina increase their recitation of salawat (blessings upon the Prophet). “Any form of salawat is acceptable,” said the Rais Syuriyah of PBNU.

Furthermore, he urged pilgrims to prioritise their health and regulate their physical activities according to their bodily condition, warning that one should not neglect health in the pursuit of worship. He added that upon returning to Indonesia, pilgrims should maintain and practice the positive deeds cultivated during the pilgrimage to ensure their Hajj is deemed mabrur (accepted) by Allah. “For a mabrur Hajj, there is no reward other than Paradise,” he remarked.

For context, the second wave of pilgrims has begun departing from Makkah to Medina. A total of 14 flight groups (kloter) departed on Sunday (7/6/2026), with the first group being the Jakarta-Pondok Gede (JKG) 18, transporting 439 pilgrims via 11 buses. The departure process is being conducted in stages from morning until evening, with special attention being given to elderly pilgrims and those with disabilities.