Auditorium Prof. Dr Suwito, MA SPs UIN Jakarta, SPs NEWS: The Graduate School (SPs) of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta collaborated with the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH) in a public lecture entitled "Fair and Sustainable Management of Hajj Funds in BPKH Investment Securities". The event, which took place at the Prof. Dr Suwito Auditorium, MA, discussed the future of hajj and hajj governance.

The public lecture was attended by the Minister of Hajj and Umrah of the Republic of Indonesia, Dr. KH Mochamad Irfan Yusuf, M.Si; Rector of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Prof. Asep Saepudin Jahar, Ph.D; Director of the Graduate School of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Prof. Dr. Zulkifli, MA; Member of the Executive Board of the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH), Dr. H. Indra Gunawan, SE, SIP, M.Sc, M.Cs; Chairman of the National Commission on Hajj, Dr. H. Mustolih Siradj, SHI, MH, CLA; Deputy Director of the Graduate School, Prof. Dr. Yusuf Rahman, MA; Head of the General Administration and Personnel Bureau of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Dr. H. Nanang Fatchurochman, SH, S.Pd, M.Pd; Desty Eka Putri Sari (Graduate School Masters Program Student) acted as moderator. Their presence showed the importance of inter-institutional collaboration to achieve better Hajj governance.

In his remarks, Director of SPs UIN Jakarta, Prof. Dr. Zulkifli, MA, expressed his hope that this event would be a new beginning for cooperation between SPs UIN Jakarta and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. "We hope that the presence of the Minister of Hajj and Umrah will be a new beginning while strengthening future cooperation," he said.

The opening of the event was conducted by the Rector of UIN Jakarta, Prof. Dr Asep Saepudin Jahar, MA, Ph.D. He warmly welcomed the presence of Gus Irfan, the nickname of the Minister of Hajj and Umrah. "I am very happy for Gus Irfan's presence, as well as the birth of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. UIN Jakarta is ready to support the strengthening of the ministry," said Rector.

The Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. K.H. Mochamad Irfan Yusuf, presented his vision of "Transforming the Implementation of Hajj and Umrah". He said that starting in 2026, his ministry will take over the entire implementation of Hajj, a strategic step to improve services. This change is in line with President Prabowo Subianto's directive.

In addition, Gus Irfan also emphasised the economic potential of the Hajj and Umrah ecosystem, which reaches a total annual cost of IDR 60 trillion. To optimise this potential, various programmes will be implemented, including the construction of a "Hajj Village" in Saudi Arabia and the transformation of the Hajj hostel into a hotel that can operate throughout the year.

Mochamad Irfan Yusuf added that the optimisation of Hajj assets, such as buildings and service offices, will be done by transferring assets from the Ministry of Religious Affairs to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. This process awaits the revision of Law No. 8/2019, which is currently under discussion.

Furthermore, Member of the BPKH Executive Board, Dr H. Indra Gunawan, M.Sc, M.Cs, presented BPKH's breakthrough in managing Hajj funds. With the theme "Ideas and Performance of Hajj Funds that are Safe, Fair, and Eternal," he highlighted the urgency of shifting from the procurement regime to investment to anticipate "capital flight" or the flow of funds abroad.

Dr Indra Gunawan also introduced digital innovations, such as the registration system and individual accounts for each pilgrim. These innovations allow pilgrims to monitor their funds transparently.

The last presentation was delivered by the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission, Dr H. Mustolih Siradj, MH, CLA, who reviewed the central role of BPKH. He explained that the management of Hajj funds is based on the principles of sharia, prudence, non-profit, transparency, and accountability. The funds managed are sourced from the initial BPIH deposit, the value of benefits, and the General Endowment Fund (DAU).

However, Dr Mustolih Siradj also highlighted crucial challenges related to sustainability and fairness in the distribution of the value of benefits. He revealed a significant imbalance, with departing pilgrims receiving more benefit value than waiting pilgrims, an issue that has sparked debate and raised questions about "Ponzi" schemes.

The decision of the Ijtima' Ulama of the Indonesian Fatwa Commission confirms that the Hajj deposit fund belongs to the prospective pilgrims individually and the investment returns should not be used to finance other pilgrims, as this is considered haram. This shows the tension between existing practices and sharia views, thus requiring BPKH to continuously evaluate and adjust in order to maintain the trust of the people.(JA)