Ministry of Hajj Welcomes Muhammadiyah Fatwa Allowing Dam Sacrifice to be Performed in Indonesia

JAKARTA – Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah of the Republic of Indonesia, has welcomed the fatwa issued by Muhammadiyah regarding the permissibility of performing dam (ritual sacrifice) for hajj pilgrims within Indonesia.

According to Dahnil, this position aligns with policies also approved by the government and Islamic scholars in Saudi Arabia.

“We welcome the Muhammadiyah fatwa. The Saudi Arabian government and scholars there also permit the slaughter of dam animals within their respective countries,” Dahnil stated when contacted by Republika.co.id on Tuesday, 17 March 2026.

He emphasised that the government grants Indonesian hajj pilgrims the freedom to follow their own Islamic jurisprudential beliefs regarding the location of dam sacrifice.

For pilgrims who accept the Muhammadiyah fatwa, Dahnil said they are permitted to slaughter dam animals in their home regions in Indonesia.

“We permit hajj pilgrims who are convinced by and trust the Muhammadiyah fatwa to slaughter dam animals in their respective locations,” he stated.

However, for pilgrims who believe that dam sacrifice must be performed in the Holy Land, the government will continue to facilitate this through official mechanisms approved by the Saudi Arabian government.

“For hajj pilgrims who believe dam sacrifice must be in the Holy Land, we permit this through official channels approved by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” said Dahnil.

Previously, the Tarjih and Tajdid Assembly of Muhammadiyah’s Central Leadership issued a fatwa permitting the slaughter of dam animals for hajj pilgrims to be relocated from the Holy Land to Indonesia in order to realise broader community welfare.

“The Tarjih and Tajdid Assembly permits this, subject to certain conditions, to prevent wastage and ensure benefits are widely felt by communities in need,” stated the fatwa signed by Assembly Chair Hamim Ilyas and Secretary Rofiq Muzakkir.