Ministry Of Religion: Maximum Age Limit Of 65 Years For Candidates For 2022 Hajj Pilgrims Authority Of Saudi Arabia

Illustration of the Hajj in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Between)

BANGKA - The age requirement for pilgrims leaving for Mecca is a maximum of 65 years. The Office of the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) Bangka stated that this requirement was the authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Head of the Hajj and Umrah Organizing Section of the Bangka Ministry of Religion, Suparhun, hopes that prospective pilgrims who do not enter the 2022 hajj city will be patient.

"I hope that people who are forced to not be able to go to the Holy Land of Mecca for the pilgrimage due to the age factor exceed the limit, please be patient because the rule was issued by the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," said Suparhun in Sungailiat, Friday, May 13.

He said that the Saudi Arabian government's consideration of limiting the age of prospective hajj pilgrims may be in consideration of preventing the spread of the corona virus variant which is considered not normal.

"In principle, the Indonesian government does not prohibit those over 65 years old from going to the Holy Land of Mecca for the Hajj, but temporarily postpones it and hopes that next year it will return to normal," he said, as reported by Antara.

There are 112 pilgrims from Bangka Regency who will depart for the Holy Land of Mecca from 47 men and 65 women.

"The oldest age of the prospective hajj pilgrims is 64 years and eight months 22 days and the age of 25 years and six months 27 days," he said.

The stages of preparation for the departure of prospective pilgrims from Bangka Regency have begun, such as meningitis vaccination services at the health center closest to the congregation's residence, socialization of departure, repayment and other preparations including the schedule for ritual exercises.

"I remind all prospective hajj pilgrims to maintain good health so that they do not experience problems from starting to leave, carrying out worship to returning to the country," he said.