"Dream - The Saudi Arabian government is distributing smart cards to the 2024 Hajj pilgrims, which are used as access to participate in the series of worship in Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina (Armuzna). "The policy of using smart cards is newly implemented this year by the Saudi Arabian government. Well, this should be followed by Indonesian pilgrims," said the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Anna Hasbie, on Wednesday, May 22, 2024."

"We advise the kloter leader, group leader, team leader, and pilgrims to take good care of it. Do not let it get lost," he said. Khalil added that the smart cards will be distributed through the sector heads to be given to the kloter leaders. They will distribute the smart cards to the pilgrims through the group leaders."

"The Kloter leader will distribute it to the group leader, then to the team leader and the pilgrims. We urge the team leader of the Kloter and the pilgrims to take good care of it to prevent it from getting lost," said Khalil. The Saudi Arabian government has prepared backup cards for the pilgrims in case of losing their smart cards. However, the quantity is very limited."

"From the Saudi Ministry of Hajj, if lost, it can be replaced but limited to 10 percent of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims. We urge the pilgrims to be careful in keeping it," said Khalil. According to him, the smart card is an implementation of the Saudi Arabian regulation that issued a fatwa stating that those who perform Hajj without legal permission are committing a sin."

"Well, that (smart card) is equivalent to a permit (for Hajj)," he said. The smart card is predominantly brown and white in color. On the front, there is a photo and profile data of the pilgrim along with a barcode that can be scanned to obtain the pilgrim's data. The data includes the pilgrim's name, photo, place and date of birth, visa number and the issuing provider, as well as the location of the pilgrim's accommodation in Mecca."