104-year-old Indonesian woman arrives in Jeddah to perform Haj

Jeddah: A 104-year-old Indonesian woman, one of the oldest people performing Haj this year, arrived in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, and said she was thrilled to be on her way to the Holy City of Mecca to perform the pilgrimage. “Alhamdulillah (Praise be to God), I am going to Mecca, Alhamdulillah I am going to Haj,” said Ibu Mariah Marghani Muhammad in Bhasha Indonesian, speaking shortly after her flight landed at King Abdulaziz International Airport in the port city of Jeddah. The woman, clad in a white head-to-toe dress, said she performed the Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca when she was a mere 90 years old. Ibu Mariah will join about 221,000 pilgrims from Indonesia who will perform the annual Haj pilgrimage in 2017. Saudi authorities say more than 1.5 million pilgrims have arrived in the kingdom. A total of about two million pilgrims will perform this year’s Haj, which runs from August 30 to September 4. Pilgrims from over 80 countries are represented at this year's Haj. Indonesian Consulate officials have said that Ibu Mariah Marghani Muhammad is in good health, and will be able to perform her Haj rituals without any problems. A spokesman for the Center for International Communication, said: “Saudi Arabia warmly welcomes Ibu Mariah. The Haj is the spiritual highlight in the life of every Muslim. At the age of 104, it is remarkable for Ibu Mariah to be here. We wish her well.”