Coordinating Minister For Human Development And Culture Believes One Voice Ulama About The Proposal Of Hajj Once In A Lifetime

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy. (ANTARA/HO-Kemenko PMK)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Muhadjir Effendy believes that most ulama in Indonesia have one voice regarding the proposal to go for Hajj once in a lifetime.

"Syarly, the majority of the ulama have no objection. Because the pilgrimage is mandatory once in a lifetime," Muhadjir said as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, September 12.

He said the proposal for a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage was to provide opportunities for those who had never gone to the Holy Land. Moreover, the queue for Hajj in Indonesia has reached decades.

According to him, if the proposal can be included in the Law on the Implementation of Hajj and Umrah, it can cut the queue period.

"We are waiting, it will be included in the amendment to the Law on Hajj. If it is done it means quite realistic and very reasonable," he said.

He did not rule out opportunities for people who want to return to the pilgrimage as long as they do not rob those who are supposed to go for Hajj. But in fact, there are still many people who are still waiting for time to leave.

"Many times it is possible as long as they do not rob those who should go for Hajj. If then it makes people who are obliged to lose the opportunity become other things," he said.

In the Law on the Implementation of Hajj and Umrah Number 8 of 2019, it is stated that conditions for those who wish to return to Hajj or more than once have to wait another 10 years.

Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas admitted that he would immediately study more deeply regarding the discourse on banning Hajj more than once.

"Indeed, the obligation in Islam is hajj once in a lifetime, even if it is able, but the proposal must be reviewed," he said.

Minister of Religion Yaqut said the discourse must be studied whether it is appropriate or not if it is implemented, because it has an impact on many people who are included in the hajj queue.

He said that the discourse was appropriate to be implemented by considering reducing queues, but some prospective pilgrims who had queued were included in the hajj category more than once.