Malang Teacher's Emotional Hajj Journey Amid Financial Hurdles and Pandemic Delays

The journey to the holy city of Mecca for Hajj is a profound spiritual aspiration for many Muslims, and for Iis Kurniawati, a dedicated madrasah teacher from Malang, East Java, this dream has been a long and arduous one. CNN Indonesia recounts her emotional experience as she prepares for the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage, a journey fraught with financial challenges and unexpected turns.

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Gimana caranya kita untuk mendapatkan uang dari [pekerjaan] PNS guru, dan juga dari dagang itu, kalau dihitung secara logika enggak mungkin. Dana yang kita butuhkan untuk berangkat itu kan juga besar

Iis and her husband, Achmad Zenurofik, a small shop owner, have been saving diligently since 2012. However, their combined income as a civil servant teacher and a small trader, coupled with the rising educational expenses for their four children, made the Hajj costs seem almost insurmountable. "Logically, it's impossible to get the money from a civil servant teacher's salary and from trading," Iis shared, reflecting the stark reality faced by many Indonesian families striving to fulfill this religious obligation.

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Kebetulan tahun 2012 itu ada dana talangan haji. Sehingga itu mempermudah kita untuk bisa segera daftar haji. Kita dulu juga ngambil dana talangan haji

Their initial Hajj registration in 2012, secured with the help of a bank loan, had an estimated departure year of 2022. However, the global COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant postponement, pushing their departure to 2027. This delay caused Iis to redirect her savings towards her children's education, particularly her eldest son's university fees. The unexpected news of an earlier departure in 2026, while a spiritual blessing, presented a new financial hurdle, especially as her second child was also due to start university. This story highlights the deep faith and resilience of ordinary Indonesians in pursuing their spiritual goals amidst economic pressures, a narrative that resonates strongly within the Indonesian context where Hajj is a significant life event.

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Pada waktu daftar, kita itu tertulis tahun 2022 berangkat. Tapi karena ada corona sehingga mundur tahun 2027