Tarmizi leads prayer to wish haj pilgrims a safe journey

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher led a modest prayer here yesterday to wish Indonesia's haj pilgrims, who will start departing for Saudi Arabia tomorrow, a safe journey.

"I hope they all enjoy good health during their pious task, praying in the holy land at Mecca," he said during a speech.

Tarmizi also urged haj pilgrims to use their precious time in Saudi Arabia to pray at sacred places like Multazam and Raudhah for an end to the country's prolonged crisis.

"I hope that Allah will listen to those who have clean hearts and are willing to pray sincerely at those places and ask for help."

A total of 201,961 haj pilgrims will fly out in 456 groups from six airports: Halim Perdanakusuma in Jakarta; Juanda in Surabaya, East Java; Hasanuddin in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi; Polonia in Medan, North Sumatra; Sepinggan in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan and Adisumarmo in Surakarta, Central Java.

It will take about one month to send all the pilgrims to Mecca and, after Idul Adha (the Moslem Day of Sacrifice) on April 7, they will return home during another one-month operation.

The government appointed national carrier Garuda Indonesia to handle the haj flights.

Tarmizi also reminded haj pilgrims to understand that the current haj program was totally different to previous years.

This year, for example, there will no longer be any ceremonies held to escort them to their planes or to welcome them home at the airports, Tarmizi said.

"We now apply what we call a no disturbance policy in which haj pilgrims are expected to rest in their dormitories and should not be bothered by any ceremonies held by local governments or their families," he said.

In previous years, many haj pilgrims became sick and some even died upon arrival in Mecca due to the exhausting formalities and ceremonies held beforehand here, Tarmizi said.

Last year, at least 664 Indonesian pilgrims died in Saudi Arabia, mostly from heart failure or lung diseases, according to data from the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

However, Tarmizi said an official ceremony was allowed to be carried out in every regency to let the pilgrims say their goodbyes.

Such a ceremony, however, is not allowed at the provincial level, Tarmizi said, adding that a gathering would be held only after the arrival of the last flight, scheduled for May 21.

"The gathering will only be a thanksgiving prayer as they have arrived safely from Mecca."

Yesterday's prayer, which was held at the religious affairs ministry in Central Jakarta was also attended by Ali Yafie of the Indonesia Ulemas Council (MUI), chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council Sudomo and representatives from Islamic organizations.

Sudomo, who has been appointed naib amirul haj (deputy leader of the haj group), said: "It is really an honor for me. I actually want to perform the haj pilgrimage as an ordinary person but Pak Tarmizi asked me to be his deputy.

"I still have a lot to learn," Soedomo, whose pilgrimage will be his first, said. (emf)