Extremely Hot Weather In Saudi Arabia, Minister Of Religion Reminds Pilgrims Of Hajj Candidates To Take Care Of Health And Prepare Physically

Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (center) accompanied by Director General of Hajj and Umrah (PHU) Hilman Latief (right) and Secretary of the Directorate General of PHU Abdullah (left) in the VIP room of Soekarno Hatta Airport (PHOTO ANTARA/HO.Humas Ministry of Religion)

JAKARTA - Minister of Religion, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, advised the pilgrims to take care of their health before leaving for the Holy Land in Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia, and to prepare physically as well as possible considering the current extreme hot weather situation.

"His health is prepared, get used to adapting to extreme situations, extreme air temperatures", he said in a written statement quoted by Antara, Monday, May 23.

The Minister of Religion said that it is currently summer in Saudi Arabia. "So yesterday we went there, the temperature was around 40-44 degrees Celsius", said Gus Men, his nickname.

Based on information received from Saudi Arabia, the air temperature is not yet at its peak. The implementation of worship until the peak of the pilgrimage is estimated to reach 50 degrees Celsius.

The Minister of Religion hopes that the congregation will begin to prepare for these conditions. One of them is by paying attention to nutritional intake and health conditions before departure.

He hopes that all Indonesian pilgrims have excellent physical readiness to carry out the pilgrimage. "At least to carry out all the worship processes from beginning to end. That's my message. Prepare physically as well as possible and mentally of course", he said.

In addition, the Minister of Religion also advised the congregation to deepen the rituals of Hajj and make physical preparations.

"During this waiting period, until the Hajj pilgrims depart, this preparation is important. Don't underestimate any situation. Take care of your health, drink lots of fluids while there so you don't get dehydrated", he said.

The Minister of Religion arrived back in the country after a five-day visit to Saudi Arabia to review the preparations for the 1443H/2022M Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

"I have checked all services in Saudi, both accommodation, transportation, catering, and health services, and thank God everything is ready", said Minister Yaqut.