Youngest Hajj Pilgrim from Aceh Dreams of Becoming an Ulama

At just a teenage age, Muhammad Alfaruq Addawami is already treading a religious path that not many adults in Indonesia might dare to take today. The teenager from Kabupaten Bener Meriah is the youngest Hajj pilgrim from Aceh this year. Alfaruq belongs to Group 14 of Hajj pilgrims from Aceh who departed for the holy city in Saudi Arabia this year. He could travel to the Kaaba in Mecca not because he registered earlier, but as a replacement for his father who died in 2021. In conversation, Alfaruq said he is happy to be able to perform the fifth pillar of Islam. “Alhamdulillah, very pleased. It never crossed my mind,” Alfaruq told reporters at Banda Aceh’s Hajj Dormitory on Tuesday 19 May. Daily, Alfaruq studies at a pondok pesantren (Islamic boarding school). Therefore his life revolves around religious studies. He said his aspiration to become an Ulama grew gradually from the environment he was raised in. “If my dream is to become a Ulama,” he said. Nurhayati, Alfaruq’s mother, said she and her late husband had registered for Hajj since 2012. After 14 years of waiting, the seat finally was given to Alfaruq to replace his father. Nurhayati said the decision came from the consensus of the whole family; her two elder daughters were already content if Alfaruq went to accompany his mother. “Before I chose the elder brother (M. Alfaruq), there were two elder siblings. So we had already agreed; I asked the elder brother if he was willing and content to let his younger brother go,” Nurhayati said. Nurhayati, who works as a kindergarten teacher in Bener Meriah, also ensured her son understood the decision. “I also asked the elder brother, ‘If the elder sister goes, would you be willing and content?’ So I invited the elder brother,” she added. Nurhayati said Alfaruq’s two elder siblings were already registered for Hajj and were waiting for their departure. Yet the family chose to send Alfaruq first because he is the son. For Nurhayati, his departure is not only about performing the fifth pillar. More than that, she hopes the spiritual journey will shape Alfaruq into a person who can be useful to many people. “Hopefully he becomes a righteous leader who benefits others. Hopefully this Hajj can bring benefits,” she said. The acting Head of the Aceh Hajj and Umrah Office (Kemenhaj Aceh), Arijal, said there are currently 5,095 Hajj pilgrims from Aceh who have already arrived in the Holy Land. Then Group 14, or the last batch, will depart on Wednesday morning (20 May) with 390 pilgrims. “This is the last batch (Group 14). Overall Hajj pilgrims from the Aceh embarkation, 5,485 pilgrims, male 2,166 and female 3,319,” said Arijal.