PPIH Advises Pilgrims on Addressing Differences in Hajj Dam Fatwas

A member of the Musyrif Dini (Religious Guidance) team of the Hajj Organising Committee (PPIH) in Saudi Arabia, Gusrizal Gazahar, has asked pilgrims to remain calm in addressing differences of opinion regarding the location for the slaughtering of sacrificial animals (dam) during Hajj. He stated that these differences are part of Islamic jurisprudence and should not be a source of conflict.

This statement was made in response to a fatwa (religious ruling) issued by the Indonesian Council of Islamic Scholars (MUI), which states that the slaughtering of sacrificial animals outside of the Holy Land is not valid. On the other hand, there are other religious institutions that allow the slaughtering to be carried out in Indonesia.

“There are two opinions circulating in the country, and both are equally valid fatwas. Neither of these fatwas has been made into a regulation with binding legal force,” said Gusrizal in an official statement, quoted on Saturday, May 16, 2026.

The Chairman of MUI’s Fatwa and Methodology Division said that Muslims cannot be forced to follow a particular opinion. According to him, pilgrims can choose the fatwa that they believe will provide them with peace of mind, in accordance with the guidance of their religious teachers or the institutions they follow.

“Whichever fatwa they choose, it is a matter of their heart, whichever makes them feel calm and at peace,” he said.

Gusrizal explained that both fatwas actually have common ground. The fatwa that allows the slaughtering to be carried out outside the Haram (sacred area), he said, is not intended to be mandatory. Meanwhile, the MUI fatwa requires the slaughtering to be carried out in the Haram. Thus, if the sacrificial animal is slaughtered in the Haram, both opinions consider it valid.

He reminded that these differences of opinion should not be presented rigidly during the short Hajj period. According to him, debating the fatwas could potentially confuse pilgrims.

“Ijtihad (independent reasoning) cannot be overturned by another ijtihad. The risk of confronting these two opinions is that it will create confusion among Muslims,” he said.

Regarding the implementation of the Hajj pilgrimage, Gusrizal assured that the Musyrif Dini team of the PPIH will oversee the slaughtering of sacrificial animals in the Haram in accordance with Islamic law and the regulations of the Saudi Arabian government. He said that the slaughtering for pilgrims who follow the MUI fatwa will be carried out through the official institution appointed by the Saudi Arabian government, namely Adahi.

Meanwhile, for pilgrims who choose to have the slaughtering carried out in Indonesia, he asked that it be done through an accountable and transparent institution. According to him, the report on the implementation of the slaughtering must also be accountable to the Hajj organizers.

Gusrizal said that the differences of opinion will be discussed further after the Hajj season ends. He plans to bring together various fatwa-issuing institutions to find common ground. “At the moment, the most important thing is to ensure that the pilgrimage is carried out smoothly and comfortably,” he said.