The Religious Dilemma of Prospective Hajj Pilgrims Facing Waiting Lists and Hajj Costs at the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Kudus Regency 2024

This study aims to analyze the religious dilemmas experienced by these pilgrims in response to those challenges, including the influence of personal, economic, and religious factors on their decisions. Employing a qualitative descriptive approach with ethnographic methods, the research was conducted through observations and in-depth interviews with registered pilgrims and officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Kudus. The primary data were obtained from field interviews with seven prospective pilgrims, two Hajj service officials, and three religious counselors. Additional data were gathered through participatory observation during official Hajj preparation meetings and religious counseling sessions. Document analysis was also conducted using official records from the Ministry. The data were analyzed using Miles and Huberman’s interactive model, which includes data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The findings show three dominant behavioral responses: 85% of pilgrims remain committed to waiting for their scheduled departure, 5% choose to withdraw their savings and perform Umrah, and 10% cancel their plans entirely. These decisions are shaped by considerations such as age, health conditions, financial capacity, and levels of religious understanding. From the perspective of Islamic law, each response represents a different interpretation of istitha’ah (ability) and is evaluated within the framework of maslahat (benefit) and darurat (necessity). The study concludes that pilgrims' religious behavior is not solely influenced by administrative barriers but also reflects their internal spiritual judgment and adaptive understanding of Islamic teachings in dealing with contemporary challenges. These findings offer valuable insight for Hajj policymakers to accommodate religious needs while addressing practical limitations.