E-Prosiding Persidangan Serantau Manasik Haji 2025 (MANASIK2025)

MANASIK2025 Putrajaya, Malaysia, 7-8 Oktober 2025 621 The policies and regulations regarding assistance for disabled pilgrims in the implementation of Hajj are intended to ensure accessibility and comfort for disabled pilgrims. According to data from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the number of disabled pilgrims continues to increase every year, requiring more attention in terms of providing appropriate facilities and services. In this context, the policy includes providing trained companions to assist disabled pilgrims in performing the Hajj rituals safely and smoothly. Disability-friendly facilities, such as accessible transportation, accommodation, and prayer places (K. A. republik Indonesia, 2024), are also an important part of these regulations. The regulations aim to adjust various technical procedures, such as transportation arrangements that allow easier mobility, and to ensure that disabled pilgrims receive equal services as other pilgrims. With this policy, it is hoped that the Hajj experience for people with disabilities can be inclusive, dignified, and uphold the principle of equal rights for all Muslims. 2. The Role of Companions in Facilitating Accessibility for Disabled Hajj Pilgrims The companions for disabled Hajj pilgrims play a very important role in ensuring that they can perform their Hajj rituals comfortably and safely. With millions of people gathering in Mecca, the Hajj pilgrimage is indeed challenging, especially for those with physical limitations or those who require special assistance. This is where the role of the companions becomes essential, as they not only assist pilgrims with limited mobility (Rokhmah, 2024, p. 1562), but also provide emotional support. Companions help pilgrims overcome various obstacles, whether during the journey to places of worship or while performing rituals like Tawaf and Sa’i. Their presence allows pilgrims to focus more on their worship without being overly concerned about their physical limitations, ensuring their spiritual experience remains intact. The role of companions in facilitating accessibility for disabled. Hajj pilgrims has a significant impact on the execution of their pilgrimage. First, companions serve as crucial physical support for pilgrims with mobility limitations, such as the blind or those using wheelchairs. For instance, during rituals like Tawaf a nd Sa’i, which require movement and physical endurance, companions play a central role in helping pilgrims navigate crowded areas and ensuring they can perform the rituals without fear of getting lost or facing difficulties. Not only do they assist with the core acts of worship, but they also accompany pilgrims during their journey to the places of worship, managing wheelchairs, and providing physical support in crowded mosque areas (DetikHikmah, 2024) Second, the companions’ role also includes ensuring the comfort and smooth execution of the pilgrimage for pilgrims, which is often just as important in the Hajj process. For disabled pilgrims, the journey can be challenging and anxiety-inducing due to their physical conditions amidst the crowded and energetic worship environment. To ease the Hajj process, disabled pilgrims are grouped according to their type of disability to make assistance and services more effective. Experienced and professional companions offer understanding and specialized support tailored to the physical and psychological needs of the pilgrims, ensuring comfort and smooth worship (Dhiyaa et al., 2024, p. 93). Third, companions for disabled Hajj pilgrims play a vital role not only in providing physical help but also in explaining the proper procedures for Hajj rituals (Dhiyaa et al., 2024, p. 92). Hajj involves several rituals that need to be understood to be performed correctly, and for disabled pilgrims, this can be a challenge. Here, companions play a crucial role in explaining each step of the ritual in a simple and detailed manner so that the pilgrims understand what they need to do at each stage. With the companion’s explanations, pilgrims can better understand not only how to perform the rituals but also their significance. For example, companions will assist pilgrims using wheelchairs in understanding how to perform Tawaf according to the rules. This is not just about the technicalities but also about helping them feel more connected to each ritual. In this way, their worship becomes more meaningful and not just a mere follow- through without understanding the reasons. The role of companions for disabled Hajj pilgrims is not only limited to physical assistance but also includes providing emotional support, explaining the rituals, and ensuring comfort during the Hajj process. Without professional and caring companions, disabled Hajj pilgrims could face many difficulties that would disrupt their spiritual experience. Therefore, the presence of companions is essential so that every pilgrim, even with physical limitations, can perform the Hajj pilgrimage smoothly,