Medina is officially empty of regular hajj pilgrims from the first wave
Each year, millions of souls undertake a journey older than nations, and in mid-May 2026, the first wave of Indonesian pilgrims completed their time in Medina, crossing through the sacred threshold of Bir Ali toward Mecca. Some 1,278 pilgrims from the final three groups departed on May 15th, carrying with them prayers offered at one of Islam's holiest cities and the weight of a pilgrimage not yet finished. The machinery of faith and logistics moved together — accommodating the frail, guarding against the heat, and holding space for those still healing — as the hajj pressed forward into its most demanding hours.
- With temperatures surpassing 42°C and the most physically grueling rituals still ahead, the health of thousands of pilgrims hangs in careful balance.
- Elderly and disabled pilgrims required golf carts and direct officer assistance just to complete the miqat ritual at Bir Ali without being overwhelmed by the heat and distance.
- A small number of pilgrims remain hospitalized and cannot yet travel, held in place by illness while the pilgrimage moves on around them.
- Organizing officers issued urgent guidance — hydrate constantly, carry umbrellas, conserve energy — as a buffer against the punishing conditions awaiting pilgrims in Mecca.
- With the first wave now cleared from Medina, the city prepares to receive a second wave, while officers relocate to Mecca to brace for the peak rituals at Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina.
On the morning of May 15th, the last three groups of Indonesian hajj pilgrims — roughly 1,278 people from embarkation units UPG 21, KJT 20, and BTH 14 — boarded buses out of Medina, heading south toward Mecca. By the following day, the city that had sheltered the first wave of Indonesia's pilgrims was officially empty of them.
Before reaching Mecca, the pilgrims stopped at Bir Ali, the sacred boundary where they performed the ihram intention and offered sunnah prayers — the formal crossing from one phase of the hajj to the next. Khalilurrahman, head of the Medina Hajj Worship Organizing Committee, monitored the departures personally and confirmed the milestone: the first wave had completed its time in the city.
The operation required particular care for elderly and disabled pilgrims, who were provided golf carts and direct assistance so they could complete the miqat process without walking long distances in the heat. With Medina already reaching 42°C and conditions expected to intensify in Mecca, officers urged all pilgrims to drink water regularly, use umbrellas, and conserve their strength ahead of the pilgrimage's most demanding days across Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina.
Not everyone departed on schedule. Some pilgrims remained under medical care and would only travel to Mecca once doctors cleared them, with health officers accompanying them for the journey. As the first wave moved forward, Medina prepared to receive the second wave, and much of the organizing committee shifted its presence to Mecca — each part of the operation repositioning itself for what comes next.
On Friday morning, May 15th, the last three groups of Indonesian pilgrims walked out of Medina's hotels for the final time. About 1,278 people from three embarkation units—UPG 21, KJT 20, and BTH 14—made their way toward the buses that would carry them south toward Mecca. By Saturday, the city that had hosted the first wave of Indonesia's hajj pilgrims was officially empty of them.
Before the journey to Mecca could begin, the pilgrims stopped at Bir Ali, a sacred border point where they would perform the ritual intention of ihram and offer sunnah prayers. This is where the formal transition from one phase of the pilgrimage to the next takes place. Khalilurrahman, the head of the Hajj Worship Organizing Committee in Medina, had been watching the process unfold since morning. He monitored the release of the BTH 14 group from their accommodations and stood at Bir Ali to observe the final departures himself. "Today, Medina is officially empty of regular hajj pilgrims from the first wave," he said in a statement the following day.
The operation moved without significant incident. Officers remained stationed at Bir Ali until the last group had left, attentive to the particular needs of elderly and disabled pilgrims. Divia Ardianto, who heads the Bir Ali sector of the organizing committee, noted that this population required special care during the miqat process. The committee deployed golf carts and provided direct assistance so that older pilgrims would not have to walk long distances in the heat to reach their buses. "We want the elderly pilgrims to be comfortable while undergoing the miqat process without having to walk far," Ardianto said.
Heat was a constant concern. Medina's temperatures had climbed to 42 degrees Celsius in recent days, and forecasters expected conditions to worsen once the pilgrims reached Mecca for the culmination of the hajj. Officers issued guidance to all departing pilgrims: drink water regularly, carry umbrellas and masks when outside, and minimize unnecessary activities. The message was clear—conserve energy and stay hydrated before the most demanding phase of the pilgrimage, which would unfold across Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina.
Not all pilgrims departed on schedule. Some remained in hospitals or under care at the Indonesian Hajj Health Clinic, recovering from illness or injury. Khalilurrahman confirmed that these individuals would travel to Mecca only after doctors cleared them as fit to continue. Health officers would accompany them when they did depart, ensuring medical support remained available throughout the journey.
With the first wave now in transit, Medina's role shifted. The city would soon receive the second wave of Indonesian pilgrims after they completed their worship at Armuzna. Meanwhile, many of the organizing committee's officers were already relocating to Mecca to strengthen services during the peak phases ahead. The machinery of the pilgrimage was moving forward, each group and each location playing its part in the larger rhythm of the hajj.
Citas Notables
We want the elderly pilgrims to be comfortable while undergoing the miqat process without having to walk far— Divia Ardianto, Head of the Bir Ali Sector of PPIH
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
What made this departure different from previous years? Was there something that could have gone wrong?
The scale is always the challenge. You're moving thousands of people across a desert in extreme heat, many of them elderly or unwell. The committee had learned from experience—they had the golf carts ready, the water stations, the medical teams on standby. But yes, heat above 42 degrees, dehydration, the physical strain of ritual—these are real risks.
You mentioned some pilgrims stayed behind in hospitals. How many are we talking about?
The source doesn't give a specific number, but it's clear enough that the committee had to plan for it. These weren't people who could be rushed. They needed medical clearance before moving on. The committee made sure health officers would travel with them when they did leave.
The second wave is coming to Medina next. Does that mean the first wave's departure was the signal to start bringing in the next group?
Exactly. The timing is choreographed around the worship phases. The second wave arrives after Armuzna is completed. It's a continuous flow, each group moving through the same stations, the same rituals, but staggered so the infrastructure doesn't collapse under the weight of everyone at once.
What about the officers who stayed behind versus those who moved to Mecca?
The ones in Medina had a job that's now done—they managed the transition out. The ones moving to Mecca are heading toward the hardest part. Arafah, Muzdalifah, Mina—that's where the peak rituals happen, where the most people gather, where the heat and the crowds are most intense. That's where the committee needs its strongest presence.