BANDA ACEH | INDATANEWS.COM – The first group of Hajj pilgrims from Aceh departed on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, from the Aceh Hajj Dormitory Embarkation (Asrama Haji Embarkasi Aceh) en route to the Holy Land. The Aceh provincial government formally bid farewell to hundreds of pilgrims from Banda Aceh and Aceh Besar who are embarking on their sacred journey to Mecca.
Aceh Governor
Muzakir Manaf urged prospective pilgrims to maintain their health, exercise caution, and thoroughly prepare both physically and spiritually for the demanding Hajj rituals. He stressed that physical fitness and mental resilience are essential to performing the sacred obligations properly.
He also underlined the importance of purifying the heart from envy, hatred, revenge, and arrogance before entering the Holy Land, noting that inner purity plays a crucial role in the quality of one's pilgrimage.
Read Also: Aceh Converts VVIP Terminal at SIM Airport for Hajj 2026 Service Boost "Do not harbor suspicion toward one another. Purify your hearts. That is an essential part of a perfect Hajj,"
Muzakir Manaf said.
CALL FOR HEART PURITY: Governor Muzakir Manaf reminds pilgrims to strengthen their hearts, health, and physical as well as spiritual readiness before departure. (PHOTO: Adli Safwan)
Physical Endurance and Pilgrim Solidarity
Read Also: Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf: JKA Health Program Will Not Be Cut Beyond spiritual readiness, the governor highlighted the importance of physical endurance, particularly for rituals such as Sa'i, Tawaf, and the stoning of the devil in Mina. He encouraged pilgrims to remain patient, sincere, and to strengthen unity within their travel groups.
He also emphasized the vital role of Hajj escorts in ensuring a smooth, orderly, and safe pilgrimage process for all participants.
"Our focus is worship. May Allah accept our prayers during the Wukuf and allow us to return as pure as newborns, free from sin," he added.
ACEH Hajj REGISTRATION FIGURES: Head of Aceh's Hajj and Umrah Office Arijal presents data showing around 5,500 pilgrims in 2026 with a 26-year waiting period. (PHOTO: Adli Safwan)
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Muzakir Manaf also mentioned potential financial support from the Baitul Asyi waqf foundation for Acehnese pilgrims this year, estimated to range between 2,500 and 3,000 Saudi riyals.
Meanwhile, Arijal, Head of the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs for Hajj and Umrah in Aceh, stated that approximately 5,500 pilgrims from Aceh will depart this year across 14 groups (kloter). The oldest pilgrim, from Langsa, is 102 years old.
Read Also: Aceh Surpasses 2025 Revenue Target, Shows Positive Development Trends He added that around 140,000 people in Aceh are currently on the Hajj waiting list, with an estimated waiting time of 26 years—down from 34 years previously.
(IDNC)REPORTER: Adli Safwan | EDITOR: Fik Sagala