Marsiyah, World's Oldest Hajj Pilgrim from Indonesia

Marsiyah, the world’s oldest Hajj pilgrim for the 2026 season, is from Indonesia. The 104-year-old woman from Kediri, East Java, is one of 221,000 Indonesian pilgrims departing with Surabaya’s SUB 112 Kloter. She arrived in Makkah on Friday, 22 May 2026, local time, her advanced age drawing significant attention.

Marsiyah was accompanied by her 67-year-old daughter, Muidah. Born on 1 July 1921, she can walk slowly with a walking stick but mostly uses a wheelchair during the Hajj rituals.

Marsiyah’s journey has become an inspiration during the 1447 Hijriah Hajj to Makkah and Madinah in Saudi Arabia. She fulfilled the fifth pillar of Islam after years of waiting and perseverance.

Marsiyah began registering for Hajj in 2021 after saving for years. She collected the funds by selling jenang (a traditional Indonesian sweet), saving small amounts in a can until she had enough. If funds were insufficient, her daughter helped top up the amount.

‘Well, saving up, I sell jenang. I save little by little, put it in a can and store it. If there’s a shortfall, my child helps add to it,’ Marsiyah told the Hajj Media Center team on Friday, 22 May 2026.

Despite being over a century old, Marsiyah’s health is reported to be good. When asked about her health, she simply replied, ‘I never get sick.’

Before the wukuf (standing) at Arafah, a demanding part of the Hajj rituals, Marsiyah is reported to be physically and mentally fit. ‘Alhamdulillah, atiku marem (my heart is happy),’ she said.

Abiswatun Nadhiroh, head of Surabaya’s Kloter 112, confirmed Marsiyah is in good health and ready to complete all Hajj rituals. Although she primarily uses a wheelchair for mobility, her overall physical and mental condition is deemed fit.