E-Prosiding Persidangan Serantau Manasik Haji 2025 (MANASIK2025)

MANASIK2025 Putrajaya, Malaysia, 7-8 Oktober 2025 615 THE IMPORTANCE OF REGULATING ASSISTANTS AND ASSISTANCE MODELS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF HAJJ FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES Arsad Hidayat Director of Islamic Affairs and Sharia Guidance, Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. ABSTRACT This study aims to examine the importance of companion arrangements in the hajj registration process for individuals with disabilities. Performing the hajj is an obligation for every capable Muslim, but individuals with disabilities often face significant challenges in fulfilling this duty. Effective companion arrangements are expected to enhance the accessibility and spiritual experience of disabled pilgrims. Therefore, it is crucial to explore how regulations and policies related to companionship can be strengthened. This study employs a normative approach with document analysis as the primary method. The main data sources include legislation related to the organization of the hajj, including Ministerial Regulations. The analysis assesses the compatibility and effectiveness of existing regulations in guaranteeing the rights of disabled pilgrims and examines the implementation of companion practices in the field. The findings reveal that the presence of companions not only boosts the confidence of pilgrims b ut also serves as an essential requirement to meet the criteria of istitha’ah (ability to perform the hajj). Companion arrangements in the hajj registration process are deemed crucial to creating an inclusive and meaningful worship experience. This study recommends strengthening regulations concerning the role of companions to ensure the fulfillment of the rights of pilgrims with disabilities. Keywords: Arrangements; Companions; Hajj Implementation; Individuals with Disabilities. INTRODUCTION Social facts indicate that people with disabilities often face various challenges in performing the Hajj pilgrimage (Islam, 2024), which is a pillar of Islam obligatory for every Muslim who is capable of undertaking it (Simbolon & Imsar, 2021, p. 8929). The primary reason behind the need for companion arrangements is to enhance accessibility and ensure that the rights of pilgrims with disabilities are fulfilled. Various studies and reports show that without trained companions, many individuals with disabilities encounter difficulties in the registration process and the performance of the pilgrimage, which can diminish the quality of their spiritual experience (Siregar & Sazali, 2024, p. 956). Therefore, an effective companion arrangement is not only necessar y to fulfill the requirement of isthitha’ah (capability) (Suci Wulandari et al., 2024, p. 180), but also to create an inclusive and supportive environment. The arrangement of companions for the Hajj pilgrimage for people with disabilities is a crucial step to ensure accessibility and the successful completion of the pilgrimage, enabling every pilgrim to experience the profound spiritual significance of this act of worship. The concept of isthitha’ah itself originates from the Qur'an, Surah Ali Imran: 97, which states: (Khaeruddin & Yuni, 2023, p. 1889)