PPIH Medan urges pilgrims to avoid city tours before Hajj peak

Medan (ANTARA) - The Chairman of the Hajj Organising Committee (PPIH) for the Medan Embarkation, Zulkifli Sitorus, has urged prospective Hajj pilgrims from North Sumatra to avoid city tours before this year’s Hajj peak. “I remind prospective Hajj pilgrims to focus on worship, especially the obligatory Hajj,” Zulkifli stated after seeing off 355 pilgrims from Cluster 14 of the Medan Embarkation at the Medan Hajj Hostel on Thursday. His team has also requested Hajj and Umrah Guidance Groups (KBIHU) in North Sumatra to avoid “city tour” activities until the Hajj peak. Two buses carrying Indonesian pilgrims from East Java and West Java were reported to have been involved in an accident at Jabal Magnet, about 60 kilometres from central Madinah, on Tuesday (28/4). “We ask our KBIHU not to conduct many city tours. Some time ago, there was a bus accident carrying pilgrims, even though the Hajj worship had not yet been performed,” Zulkifli emphasised. Furthermore, he added, the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs has banned Indonesian pilgrims from undertaking city tours before the Hajj peak in Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina. This ban is outlined in Circular Letter number S-88/BN/2026, addressed to the Heads of Provincial Offices of the Ministry of Religious Affairs across Indonesia. City tours have the potential to cause fatigue, while such activities are not part of the pillars or obligations of the Hajj.