Pilgrims Start to Leave Mina

ANTARA FOTO/HANNI SOFIA

Pilgrims perform jumroh (stoning the devil) on Tuesday (13/8/2019) in Jamarat, Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The jumroh is one of the ritual requirements of the haj pilgrimage after performing wukuf in Arafah.

MECCA, KOMPAS — On the second tasyrik day on Tuesday (13/8/2019), the jumrah (stoning the devil) site in Mina was crowded with haj pilgrims from morning. Around 120,000 Indonesian haj pilgrims choosing the early nafar had begun leaving their shelters in Mina at 7 a.m. local time to return to their accommodation in Mecca after throwing the jumrah.

Nafar is the departure of haj pilgrims from Mina on tasyrik days. Tuesday was the last day in Mina for pilgrims choosing the early nafar. They had to leave Mina before sundown after completing the jumrah, which involves throwing stones at three huge slabs of stone representing three devils. Those choosing nafar sani will leave Mina after completing the jumrah ritual on the third tasyrik day on Wednesday (14/8).

Pilgrims left Mina on buses, in a process similar to how they arrived in Mina. The transportation of pilgrims from Mina to their accommodation was smooth despite the roads being crowded with pedestrians.

Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, who is also the amirulhaj (leader of haj pilgrimage), said there were no problems during the jumrah ritual for pilgrims taking the early nafar despite a downpour and power outage in Mina the day before. “The downpour that led to a power outage in several shelters did not disrupt the jumrah ritual,” Lukman said.

Pilgrims staying near Mina, especially in the Aziziyah area, chose to walk across the Jamarat, the building where the jumrah ritual takes place.

In shelters for haj pilgrims taking the special haj program, located near the Jamarat, most pilgrims had left their shelters in the morning.

Cleric Ahmad Imam Mawardi, a special haj guide from Kanomas Tour and Travel, said that early nafar and nafar sani were equal. “Pilgrims can take early nafar due to various considerations. Some felt tired or wanted to focus on the next activities. Some want to go home immediately. There are many personal reasons,” Ahmad said.

KOMPAS/NASRU ALAM AZIZ

Pilgrims leave Mina along Sidqi street in Aziziyah district after performing the jumroh (stoning the devil) ritual on Tuesday (13/8/2019) in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Tuesday was the last day of the departure of haj pilgrims from Mina, called nafar sani, which occurs on the third Tasyrik (Tashreeq) day that falls on the 11th, 12th and 13th of every month.

Raining in Mina

Unlike the day before, the weather in Mecca and the surrounding areas was sunny despite clouds on Tuesday. It had rained in the afternoon for three straight days since wukuf in Arafah on Saturday (10/8).

The one-hour rain shower in Mina on Monday temporarily stopped the flow of pilgrims toward the Jamarat. Once it ended, the roads toward the Jamarat were again crowded with pilgrims seeking to do the jumrah ritual.

Tents were inundated by water, which receded immediately after the rain stopped. Power supply was stopped temporarily due to fears of short circuits during the rain. The distribution of dinner was undisrupted, other than the lack of hot water for tea and coffee.

KOMPAS/NASRU ALAM AZIZ

Pilgrims leave Mina along Sidqi street in Aziziyah district after performing the jumroh (stoning the devil) ritual on Tuesday (13/8/2019) in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Tuesday was the last day of the departure of haj pilgrims from Mina, called nafar sani, which occurs on the third Tasyrik (Tashreeq) day that falls on the 11th, 12th and 13th of every month.

Arafah-Muzdalifah-Mina operational unit head Jaetul Muchlis said that conditions in the pilgrims’ tents during the rain were fine. “Officers were put on standby in their posts to ensure safe conditions and that all pilgrimage services carried on as usual,” he said.