The Story of a Century-Old Man from Aceh, Selling Land for Hajj. The man who was born in 1923

Baca Gitu Loh - Muhammad Taher Abdussalam, the oldest Acehnese pilgrim from Gayo Lues, flew to Saudi Arabia, Monday, May 28 2023, via Sultan Iskandar Muda airport, Aceh Besar.

Muhammad Taher joined the BTJ-06 flying group (Kloter) with other congregations from Gayo Lues, Bireuen and Lhokseumawe.

The man who was born in Tampeng, Gayo Lues in 1923 went alone without his family.

Muhammad Taher is very confident about his health condition to carry out this year's pilgrimage even without a companion. "God willing, I will be able to perform the pilgrimage this year," he said.

Based on data from the Integrated Hajj Computerized and Information System (Siskohat), this man who is blessed with six children registered for Hajj on October 14, 2014.

Muhammad Taher has twice failed to go to the holy land. First when the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world and last year when the Saudi Arabian government still limited the maximum age of pilgrims to 65 years.

This Hajj season has been an extraordinarily pleasant year for Muhammad Taher. This 100-year-old man (a century) is finally able to go to the holy land to perform the pilgrimage for the first time.

"Alhamdulillah, I am very happy to be able to carry out the pilgrimage this time, I hope everything will go smoothly," hoped Muhammad Taher.

Even to achieve the desire to perform the pilgrimage, Muhammad Taher was willing to sell his land to pay off the costs of the pilgrimage trip (Bipih).

For Muhammad Taher, this is not his first time to Saudi Arabia. He admitted that he had performed Umrah twice. "Alhamdulillah, I have also performed Umrah twice, a gift from my children," said Muhammad Taher, sadly.

There was not the slightest doubt for Muhammad Taher to leave for Saudi Arabia. His experience of going for Umrah and having traveled to Yogyakarta, Bandung and Jakarta can be an experience in his life.

"Why are you afraid to go alone, I have done Umrah and traveled to Java, such as Yogyakarta, Bandung and Jakarta. Even before Indonesia's independence I was there," said Muhammad Taher proudly.

Muhammad Taher's profession is just a coffee farmer like most other people in Gayo Lues. He has also cultivated cocoa and hazelnut.

He also admitted that he had never tasted education in his life. The only program he ever participated in was Illiteracy Eradication (PBH) launched by President Soekarno at that time.

Currently, Muhammad Taher's wish is only to be able to perform the pilgrimage. All of his wealth has been passed down to his children.