Chairman of PPIH Saudi Arabia, Muchlis M. Hanafi, noted in a statement received in Jakarta on Friday that currently, pilgrims from various countries, including Indonesia, are concentrated in Mecca to perform the peak phases of the Hajj pilgrimage at Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina.
“Pilgrim density is very high, especially during prayer times. We urge pilgrims to adjust their departure time from the hotel and their return from Masjid al-Haram to prevent crowding at the bus stops,” Muchlis remarked.
He recommended that pilgrims depart earlier to secure a prayer spot inside Masjid al-Haram and to avoid having to pray outside under the hot sun if the mosque is already packed.
After prayer, pilgrims are also encouraged not to return immediately. It is suggested to spend some time doing dhikr (remembrance) or resting briefly before heading back to the hotel to avoid congestion while waiting in line for buses.
“After prayer, it is best to wait about one hour before returning so that the bus stops are less crowded and pilgrims can board buses comfortably,” he remarked.
Muchlis also reminded pilgrims to ensure they board buses according to their respective routes to return to their hotels accurately.
Meanwhile, Head of Transportation at PPIH Saudi Arabia, Mujib Roni, stated that all Shalawat Bus fleets have been operating to serve Indonesian prospective pilgrims from 205 hotels in Mecca to Masjid al-Haram and back.
“A total of 445 buses are in operation. This service has been running fully in line with the increasing number of pilgrims in Mecca,” Mujib stated.
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Translator: Riezko, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Arie Novarina
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