The Jamaah (hajj pilgrims) have begun to experience fatigue after conducting a lot of Sunnah, part of the pilgrimage."
Mecca (ANTARA News) - A total of 60 Indonesian pilgrims have died, as of reports on Saturday, even as the peak of Hajj pilgrimage is a week away when the devout Muslims worship and pray in the plain of Arafah.

Six pilgrims passed away on Saturday following illness of some sort, according to data obtained from the Computerized Information Systems of Hajj Pilgrimage.

The six were identified as Nipi binti Mad Ambri Mungkar (69), Marfuah Amina Toyib binti Mustofa (76), Hawang binti Bungku Ilham (59), Boniatun binti Dulkahir Kartak (60), Hariri bin Mustafa M. Soleh (73), and Dain Nariya bin Satimin (69).

In the last three days, at least five pilgrims died every day, according to the spokesman of the countrys hajj pilgrimage organizing committee, Dr. Ramon Andrias.

"The Jamaah (hajj pilgrims) have begun to experience fatigue after conducting a lot of Sunnah, part of the pilgrimage," Ramon pointed out.

On September 11, all the pilgrims including those from Indonesia, will proceed to the plain of Arafah, located around 25 kilometers from Mecca, to conduct the Wuquf before heading to Mina through Muzdalifah.

In the meantime, data obtained from the Computerized Information Systems of Hajj Pilgrimage (Siskohat) showed that so far, a total of 140,856 Indonesian pilgrims or 90 percent of the total 155,200 pilgrims, have arrived in Mecca.

The Indonesian Religious Affairs Ministry has sent a total of 3,250 officers, including paramedics, to help the countrys pilgrims during the pilgrimage season.

The annual Hajj pilgrimage is the fifth pillar of Islam. It is an obligation for Muslims to undertake a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime, if they are physically fit and financially able.

Thousands of Indonesian Muslims are now in queue and the wait could be of up to 25 years to be able to go for Hajj pilgrimage due to the restricted quota set by the Saudi government.

(Reported by Gusti NC Aryani/Uu.B003/INE/KR-BSR/H-YH)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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