Meet Hajj 2026’s Oldest Pilgrim
At 104, Indonesian pilgrim Mbah Marsiyah fulfils her lifelong dream of performing Hajj in Mecca after decades of saving and sacrifice.
By Abdullahi Yusuf
A 104-year-old Indonesian woman has been reported as the oldest pilgrim to perform Hajj in 2026, completing a lifelong ambition built on decades of saving, patience and secrecy.
Mbah Marsiyah, from Kediri in East Java, Indonesia, was part of the country’s official pilgrimage quota of 221,000 pilgrims for this year’s Hajj, one of the largest national delegations to the annual Islamic gathering in Saudi Arabia.
Born on 1 July 1921, she had registered for Hajj in 2021 after years of slowly accumulating savings from her work selling traditional porridge. Her story has drawn attention in Indonesia as an example of long-term dedication to fulfilling one of Islam’s five pillars.
Speaking to the Hajj Media Center, she described how she gradually set aside small amounts over time, often without telling those around her.
“I sell traditional porridge. I saved, little by little. I put the money in a can and save it. If there’s anything short, my son adds to it,” she said.
Marsiyah said she initially kept her plans to perform Hajj private, not even informing close relatives or neighbours until her savings had become substantial enough to register.
After reaching her goal, she eventually shared her intention with those around her, marking the beginning of her formal journey towards the pilgrimage.
Despite her age, Marsiyah is reported to remain mobile with the assistance of a walking stick, although she used a wheelchair for much of the pilgrimage process once in Saudi Arabia.
She arrived in Mecca on the morning of Friday 22 May, accompanied by her 67-year-old daughter, Muidah, who supported her throughout the journey.
Officials from Indonesia’s Hajj mission described her condition as stable upon arrival. Abiswatun Nadhiroh, head of the country’s 112th Surabaya Embarkation Group, said on the second day of the pilgrimage that Marsiyah was in good health and able to take part in key aspects of the Hajj rituals.
Her participation comes as Indonesia continues to send one of the world’s largest annual contingents of pilgrims, with authorities managing complex logistics for elderly travellers who make up a significant proportion of the group.
For Marsiyah, however, the journey represents something deeply personal: the culmination of years of quiet sacrifice, careful saving and desire to complete a religious duty she had carried with her for most of her life.
With additional information from Arab News
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