REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Director General of Hajj and Umrah Organization (PHU) of the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Ministry of Religious Affairs) Hilman Latief confirmed that strengthening istitha'ah is a must for prospective pilgrims who will go on Hajj next year. The istita'ah in question covers two main things, namely health and financial istitha'ah.

“Strengthening istitha'ah for Hajj worshippers continues to be studied as a material for better evaluation of Hajj,” he said in a statement obtained by Republika, Saturday (14/10/2023).

Therefore, this year's would-be pilgrims are called obligatory istitha'ah, mainly in terms of health and financial. This was conveyed by Hilman during the event Strengthening the Management of Hajj and Umrah for Enhancing Boarding School Independence and Community Economy at IAIN Metro Bandar Lampung, Thursday (12/10/2023).

Hilman explained that Hajj is a physical worship that can only be done in excellent condition. Therefore, the prospective worshipper (calhaj) is also expected to be able to prepare himself in terms of his health.

Based on the evaluation of the Hajj in 2023, the government in particular the Ministry of Religious Affairs finds a complex situation. It is recorded that there are about 61,000 elderly (elderly) pilgrims who must be evacuated.

This condition is the result of two consecutive years in 2020 and 2021 where there was no hajj due to Covid-19, and in 2022 there were restrictions. This led to all elderly hajj worshippers being removed in 2023, plus the elderly priority quota to 5 percent.

“In the Quran, the Hajj commandment is always accompanied by the phrase Hajj performed for the able. Being able here must be physically as well as financially capable. Considering that the organization of the Hajj does cost a lot of money,” Hilman continued.

Regarding the cost of Hajj, he explained that the sustainability of the ideal Hajj financial management can be achieved if the value of the benefits and the Cost of Hajj Worship Travel (Bipih) have an ideal presentation of 30 percent and 70 percent.

“The cost of Hajj also has an impact on the sustainability of Hajj financial management, where if the value of the benefits or subsidies is equal or even higher than the Hajj costs incurred by the worshippers, the financial stability of the hajj will be compromised,” he said.

Hilman also added that he will evaluate the value of the cost of holding Hajj worship with a solid basis. This is intended to realize the sustainability of the ideal Hajj financial management, as well as to carry out the process of health ista'ah more rigorously. In fact, he said the 2024 health istitha'ah examination will be carried out early before the payment of the Hajj expenses.

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