Indonesian Congregants Are Advised Not To Increase Umrah During The Day

The Photo Archives - Muslims packed the area around the Kaaba to carry out Umrah tawaf at the Grand Mosque, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday (7/6/2023). (ANTARA PHOTO/WAHYU PUTRO A)

JAKARTA - Officials of the Ministry of Religion advise Indonesian pilgrims not to perform mandatory Umrah pilgrimage during the day because the weather in the Holy City of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, is very hot.

"The weather in Makkah is very hot. Pilgrims who arrive in Makkah during the day should not force themselves directly to perform mandatory Umrah, rest first at the hotel," said Director of Foreign Hajj Services Subhan Cholid as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, June 12.

Subhan said that pilgrims from various countries continued to come to Makkah Al-Mukarramah and MasjidilHaram getting more and more crowded towards the peak period of the implementation of the pilgrimage.

According to him, the density of congregants at the Mosque of Haram increased during the implementation of the congregation prayer and the terminal conditions were congested during the congregation's arrival to and from the mosque.

The level of density of the congregation at the Mosque of Haram, he said, should also be taken into account when they want to carry out the mandatory Umrah pilgrimage.

According to him, pilgrims who arrive in Makkah in the afternoon or evening can perform the mandatory Umrah pilgrimage at night, around 23.00 local time, when most of the pilgrims have returned from the Grand Mosque.

"So, the congregation can rest first during the afternoon or evening until the hotel in Makkah. In the evening, after the dispersal of the isya prayer, the congregation can go to the Grand Mosque for mandatory Umrah," he said.

Pilgrims who arrive in Makkah at midnight or early morning, said Subhan, should also rest for a while before carrying out the mandatory Umrah pilgrimage.

Umrah must be carried out after the dawn prayer, after most of the pilgrims returned from the mosque to the boarding house.

"The time range is around 06.00 am. The weather is not too hot and the Grand Mosque is not very crowded with the movement of the congregation at dawn who will return to the hotel," said Subhan.

Indonesian pilgrims who departed in the first wave departed from the city of Medina to Makkah gradually until June 16, 2023.

Meanwhile, the departure of the congregation in the second wave from the country to Makkah City is scheduled to last until June 22, 2023.