No Need To Force Arbain Worship, Coordinating Minister For Human Development And Culture Urges Hajj Candidates To Prioritize Mandatory Worship

Prospective hajj wearing an umbrella minimizes the heat after the Zuhur prayer at the Grand Mosque of Makkah on Tuesday 6 June. (ANTARA-Wahyu Putro A).

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (PMK) Muhadjir Effendy asked Indonesian pilgrims to prioritize mandatory worship rather than imposing sunnah worship while in Medina.

"If we certainly impose something that is not mandatory, but instead lose the mandatory ability, which will make the pilgrimage not perfect," Muhadjir said in his statement in Medina, Monday, May 20, as reported by Antara.

Muhadjir gave an example, pilgrims do not have to force themselves to worship Arbain while in Medina. The reason is, if they force themselves, they are worried that their health condition will be disrupted.

Jemaah yang merasa dirinya kurang fit atau tidak dalam kondisi prima sebaiknya saja ber worship di hotel. Pergunakan waktu selama di Madinah untuk persiapan diri menuju Makkah.

"Don't force yourself to worship that is not mandatory. Because the obligatory worship will be in Mecca," he said.

He is worried that if the congregation always pursues sunnah worship when in Medina, when in Mecca it will even get sick or their health condition will decrease. That way, they will not be solemn in carrying out a series of pilgrimages.

"Therefore, focus on getting healthy until Arafah later. Everyone can do wukuf in Arafah. The pilgrimage is in Arafah, the others are supporting it," he said.

Therefore, he asked the Hajj officers to provide this understanding to the participants of the new or about to arrive in Medina.

"Well, this must be given a complete understanding to the pilgrims. I think so," he said.