Weather In Makkah Up To 40 Degrees, Minister Of Religion Asks Prospective Hajj Pilgrims To Prepare Physical Fitness

Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (left) with his entourage while reviewing the readiness for the implementation of the pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday (8/5/2024). (ANTARA/HO-Kemenag RI)

Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas appealed to prospective pilgrims to prepare physical fitness to be strong in carrying out the pilgrimage in the midst of hot weather.

This appeal was conveyed by the Minister of Religion after checking the readiness of hotels, buses, and catering kitchens for Hajj pilgrims in Makkah, Wednesday, May 8.

The Minister of Religion made a working visit to the Holy Land to check the final readiness of a number of services to be provided to Indonesian pilgrims.

"I ask the pilgrims to prepare the physical as well as possible. Hajj is a physical worship. Prepare the best physical. Don't over-forest it," said the Minister of Religion in a statement reported by ANTARA.

Gus Men, as he is familiarly called, revealed that currently Saudi Arabia's condition during the day is hot, and has high temperatures.

"The weather is very hot. Today, 40 degrees. This is not yet peaked. A few days ago, the Minister of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia said that the temperature in Saudi Arabia at the peak of Hajj could reach 48 to 50 degrees," he said.

In addition to taking care of his physique, Gus Men also appealed to prospective pilgrims to eat nutritious food and take vitamins, to help the congregation maintain stamina.

However, he also stated that his party in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) has prepared health services for pilgrims who can be used by pilgrims for 24 hours.

"Congregants don't hesitate to convey anything to the officers to be able to help the congregation," he said.

A number of efforts to maintain the health of the Hajj pilgrims have been carried out by the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) for the implementation of the 1445 H/2024 M pilgrimage. Since the beginning, the Ministry of Religion has established a health istitiah as a condition for payment of the cost of Hajj. In addition, the Ministry of Religion has also released Hajj exercises.

Hajj compounds are filled with simple movements created by professional healthy gymnastics experts in their fields. The goal is that this movement can be carried out by all Indonesian pilgrims, including those who are elderly.