Aceh Gets Quota For 1,988 Congregants For 2022 Hajj Departure

Documentation - The arrival of the Aceh debarkation hajj pilgrims to Sultan Iskandar Muda Airport, Aceh Besar, in 2019. (ANTARA/Khalis Surry)

BANDA ACEH - The Regional Office of the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) of Aceh Province stated that the quota of hajj pilgrims set by the central government for Aceh was 1,988 people, for the departure of the hajj pilgrimage in 2022 AD or 1443 Hijri.

Head of the Hajj and Umrah Organizing Division of the Aceh Ministry of Religion's Regional Office, Arijal, said that the previous quota for Aceh's hajj was 4,393 people. However, only half can depart this year, considering that the quota given by Saudi Arabia to Indonesia is also limited.

"Even though we don't get the full quota, it's only around 50 percent. We are still grateful that the Acehnese hajj pilgrims are able to leave," said Arijal in Banda Aceh, as reported by Antara, Tuesday, April 26.

Decree of the Minister of Religion (KMA) No. 405 of 2022, the quota for Indonesian Hajj 1443 H/2022 M is 100,051 people, consisting of 92,825 regular hajj quotas and 7,226 special hajj quotas.

Based on the KMA, the Aceh Hajj quota is 1,988 pilgrims. If you add up the dispatched officers and supervisors, the total is 1,999 people.

"This is happy news, for us Muslims, especially in Aceh after two years of canceling the departure of pilgrims due to the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.

Arijal explained, since the Minister of Religion announced the departure of this year's hajj, the Aceh Ministry of Religion and its ranks have actively carried out socialization to the district/city to sub-district levels to make preparations.

It is planned that the first batch of Indonesian pilgrims will depart on June 4, 2022. The age of departing pilgrims is also limited to under 65, in accordance with Saudi Arabia's policy.

"Of course the time is relatively short, so we work extra by coordinating with relevant agencies, such as the Health Service and immigration authorities," he said.

The Aceh Ministry of Religion appealed to all pilgrims who will depart, to prepare themselves as best they can, starting from the Hajj rituals to always maintaining personal health from an early age.

Of course, Arijal said, all restrictions on the departure of Hajj pilgrims with quotas are not full due to the pandemic.

"So it must be a special concern, to obey the rules and implement health protocols during the pandemic, and istitha'ah is one of the mandatory conditions for Hajj, both economic and health capabilities," said Arijal.