TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) is urging the government to revert the Hajj pilgrimage financing scheme to the foundational Islamic principle of manistah'a ilaihi sabl (whoever is able to make the journey).
This stance comes in response to a proposal from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah setting the Hajj Accommodation and Operational Costs (BPIH) at Rp107.34 million per person.
To maintain affordability, the government proposed a financing mechanism where 60 percent is covered by the optimization yields managed by the Hajj Financial Management Body (BPKH), leaving only 40 percent to be paid directly by the pilgrims.
MUI Deputy Chairperson KH Cholil Nafis stressed that the pilgrimage is only mandatory for Muslims who are financially, physically, and mentally capable (istithaa'ah).
He criticized the indirect "subsidy" scheme, arguing that it obscures the fundamental prerequisite of financial capability required to perform the Hajj.
"People who go on the Hajj are those who are manistah'a ilaihi sabl, so there is actually no such thing as a subsidy, and it should be returned to those who are capable since Allah does not obligate those who are unable to perform the Hajj," Cholil said, as quoted from MUI Digital on July 11, 2026.
Cholil explained that labeling a portion of Hajj costs as a "subsidy" is a misconception that requires correction. The funds do not derive from the state budget or government assistance, but rather from the investment yields generated by the initial deposits of all pilgrims, including the millions currently waiting in the queue.
Cholil argued that artificially lowering Hajj travel costs by depleting the accumulated benefits of other prospective pilgrims is unjust and violates the core principle of istithaa'ah.
Prior to this, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah proposed a new financing framework for the 1448 Hijri (2027) Hajj pilgrimage. Under the proposal, the Direct Hajj Travel Costs borne by prospective pilgrims would be reduced to 40 percent. Meanwhile, the remaining 60 percent would be covered by the optimization yields managed by the Hajj Financial Management Body (BPKH).
Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak stated that the scheme serves as government support to ensure that adjustments to Hajj costs do not compound the financial burden on pilgrims.
"So, if the total reaches Rp107 million, it means the pilgrims will pay roughly Rp42.8 million, while the portion covered by the BPKH optimization yields will amount to around Rp64.2 million," Dahnil said during the 23rd Al Washliyah Congress at the Class I Hajj Dormitory in Jakarta on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, according to his official statement.
The proposal is in stark contrast to the financing breakdown utilized the previous year. During the last Hajj season, pilgrims bore approximately 62 percent of the costs directly, while the optimization yields from BPKH contributed only about 38 percent.
According to Dahnil, optimizing the allocation of the investment yields to 60 percent for the upcoming year is highly feasible. This feasibility relies on current Hajj fund management calculations, which account for the accumulation of managed funds built up when pilgrim departures were suspended in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, alongside the restricted departures enforced in 2022.
Read: How Much Will Hajj Pilgrims Have to Pay for 2027 Departure?
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