Guides of Hajj and Umrah Must Be Able to Provide Positive Change

 

Insight-Cybermedia.com, Bandung - The Faculty of Da'wa and Communication UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung Bandung held the 30th Certification of Professional Guide Hajj and Umrah. The event was held at the Shakti Hotel, Jalan Soekarno Hatta Number 735, Cimenerang, Gedebage, Bandung City, 15-22 of January 2024.

The certification was held in collaboration with General Directorate of Hajj and Umrah of the Indonesian Ministry of Religion, the Central Da'wah Institute of Nahdlatul Ulama, and supported by Regional Office of the Ministry of Religion of the West Java.

The number of participants was 115 from various regions in Indonesia, representatives of Nahdlatul Ulama, Muhammadiyah, Persis and Parmusi.

When performing the hajj and umrah rituals, the guides often talk about personal experiences that have nothing to do with the practice of Hajj and Umrah so that the congregation does not gain knowledge as a provision for the Hajj and Umrah.

In his speech, KH Ahmad Rosyidin Mawardi, Chief Executive of the LDPBNU (Institute Da'wah of Nahdlatul Ulama) advised that this event was an important lesson for supervisors.

"This certification is a learning medium for guides so that when they perform the Hajj and Umrah rituals, they can provide knowledge to the congregation, and must be able to provide positive change to the congregation," said KH Ahmad Rosyidin Mawardi, on Tuesday (16/01/2024).

This Hajj certification is also a practical model of religious moderation because those who participate in the Hajj and Umrah guide certification have diverse social organization backgrounds.

Certification can be a medium for sharing knowledge and experience among participants. "The number of participants this time is the largest, but the certification price is relatively competitive," said KH Nurul Badrutamam, LDPBNU Secretary.

Every single event of Hajj certification is held, there are always interesting stories and experiences. Apart from that, there is also a positive impact from each certification event on Hajj and Umrah pilgrims as an effect of increasing the quality of guides.

"There is something different about each certification activity so that when the Hajj certification returns, there is something that can be conveyed to the congregation. "Not only provisions for Hajj jurisprudence, but provisions to increase discipline in carrying out duties as a guide and be more professional," said the Dean of the Faculty of Da'wah and Communication, UIN Bandung, Enjang AS.

Hajj officers and counsellors do not only provide training regarding the rituals of the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. However, it also provides other techniques that are useful in places of worship, both in Mecca and Medina.

The reason is that the characteristics of the congregation are diverse and the understanding or experience of the congregation is also different.

"This Hajj certification should not only fulfill obligations because you will be tired later, but because it is necessary it will be light. This certification must be able to increase the supervisors' knowledge of the terrain, culture and services to the congregation," said Ajam Mustajam, Head of the Regional Office of Ministry of Religion of the West Java.

"Futhermore, it also teaches the congregation how to use facilities and infrastructure during the Hajj and Umrah," firmed Ajam.