The Rector of Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU), Prof. Dr. Agussani, M.AP, officially sent off 12 lecturers who will perform the Hajj pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 2026. The ceremony took place on Thursday (April 16) at the UMSU Meeting Room on Jalan Muchtar Basri No. 3, Medan.
The event was attended by Vice Rector I Prof. Dr. Muhammad Arifin, M.Hum, Vice Rector II Prof. Dr. Akrim, M.Pd, Treasurer of PWM North Sumatra Prof. Dr. Muhammad Qorib, M.A, faculty leaders, bureau heads, and the prospective pilgrims.
In his remarks, Rector Agussani extended his congratulations and prayers to the departing pilgrims.
“We wish you a safe journey in performing the Hajj pilgrimage. Despite the current geopolitical situation, we hope it will not pose any obstacles. So far, there have been no disruptions to Hajj departures related to the geopolitical conditions in the Middle East,” he stated.
On this occasion, the Rector also shared his experience performing Hajj in 2025 and emphasized the importance of patience throughout the pilgrimage.
“Patience is essential. I am confident that UMSU pilgrims will carry out their عبادah well and return as mabrur (accepted) Hajj pilgrims,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Treasurer of PWM North Sumatra and member of the UMSU Board of Trustees, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Qorib, M.A, in his brief sermon, highlighted the importance of safeguarding important documents during the pilgrimage.
“The Nusuk card is prone to being lost, so it requires extra attention to avoid problems,” he explained.
He emphasized that the key to performing Hajj lies in maintaining consistency (istiqamah) both physically and spiritually.
“The most important aspect of Hajj is istiqamah—both physically and spiritually. Pilgrims must maintain their physical strength, spiritual well-being, and mental readiness to ensure a smooth and complete pilgrimage,” he said.
Pilgrims were also advised not to overexert themselves in performing additional (sunnah) rituals.
“Do not force yourself to go to the Grand Mosque for extra عبادah if your condition does not allow it. The peak of Hajj is at Arafah, so maintaining good health is crucial,” he added.
Representing the pilgrims, Chairman of the Muhammadiyah Regional Board of Medan, Maulana Siregar, S.Ag., M.A, expressed gratitude for the opportunity.
“This is truly a blessing for me. The Medan City Government directly asked whether I had performed Hajj. I have performed Umrah six times, and Alhamdulillah, this year Allah has granted me the opportunity to perform Hajj,” he said.
He explained that his departure is part of a regional Hajj assignment from the Medan City Government representing Muhammadiyah.
“Thank you to UMSU for the appreciation given to us. We pray for UMSU’s continued success and development,” he added.
The 12 pilgrims departing this year include Prof. Dr. Ir. R. Sabrina, M.Si; Dr. Muhammad Said Harahap, M.I.Kom; Dr. Syafrida Hani, S.E., M.Si; Drs. Irwan Syahputra, M.A; Yunus Daulay, M.A; Maulana Siregar, M.A; Juriadi, S.Ag., M.A; Nursamsi Adnan, S.P., M.M; Lahmuddin, S.H., M.Hum; Elizar Sinambela, S.E., M.Si; Nurhasanah Nasution, S.Sos., M.I.Kom; and Syamsul Rizal Nasution, S.Sos.
The ceremony concluded with the symbolic presentation of gifts to the pilgrims by the Rector, Vice Rectors, and UMSU leadership.
