Prospective Indonesian Hajj Pilgrims Depart From Medina To Mecca Next Sunday, Stop First At Bir Ali To Take Miqat

Hajj pilgrims from Indonesia will stop at Bir Ali to take the miqat. (Photo: Doc. Ministry of Religion website)

JAKARTA - The pilgrims from Indonesia will depart from Medina to Mecca after completing the Arbain process, namely on Sunday, June 12. They will stop at Bir Ali first to take the miqat.

Miqat is the limit or the place where the Umrah or Hajj pilgrims start to enter Ihram and at the same time start the intention. Especially for the pilgrims who came from Medina, they took the miqat at Bir Ali.

Bir Ali is a mosque which is about 11 kilometers from the Prophet's Mosque west of the Aqiq Valley or about 15 minutes driving time.

"Precisely west of the Aqiq Valley. There, there is a mosque standing, it's called the Bir Ali Mosque," said Head of the Bir Ali Sector, Aruji Maswatu, on the official website of the Ministry of Religion.

The congregations that will depart from Medina to Mecca on June 12 are working group 1 Embarkation Solo (SOC 1) and batch 1 Embarkation Jakarta-Pondok Gede (JKG 1).

When arriving at Bir Ali, the congregation alights according to the order of the bus and will be directed to special doors for female and male pilgrims to perform ablution.

The officers at Bir Ali are ready to direct the pilgrims to the mosque, both male and female pilgrims will be separated.

When they arrived at the Bir Ali Mosque, the congregation prayed two rak'ahs of the sunnah, both the tahyatul mosque prayer and the two rakaat sunnah Umrah prayers and then prayed.

"Before leaving the mosque, there they intend to perform the obligatory Umrah, then the officers will direct them to the bus through the same entrance, the same entrance and exit," said Aruzi, as quoted by Antara.

Then, the officers will make sure all the congregation after intending and entering into ihram not to violate the prohibition of ihram such as wearing underwear for male pilgrims, not cutting hair, wearing perfume.

It is certain that the pilgrims must intend to perform Umrah before the bus leaves for Mecca. Later the officers will also record all the congregation before their departure to Mecca so that no one is left behind.