<![CDATA[This study examines the historical transformation, roles, and functions of Indonesia’s Hajj and Umrah Guidance Groups (KBIHU) as community-based partners in national Hajj management. Using a qualitative library research approach, the study analyzed secondary sources, including laws, ministerial regulations, academic studies, government reports, and policy documents selected purposively based on relevance and credibility. Data were analyzed through content analysis, thematic coding, and source triangulation. The findings show that KBIHU originated from community-led ritual learning initiatives, was institutionalized through Ministerial Decree No. 374-A/1995, and was later formalized within regulatory frameworks, including KMA No. 371/2002 and Presidential Regulation No. 31/2019. The nomenclature change to KBIHU in 2019 and subsequent technical regulations, including PMA No. 7/2023, expanded its responsibilities to include Umrah guidance, clarified financial boundaries, and introduced accreditation and accountability mechanisms. Functionally, KBIHU supports Hajj management through administrative socialization, pedagogical manasik training, guideline development in coordination with the Ministry, in-field assistance in Saudi Arabia, post-Hajj mentoring, and coordination with official Hajj agencies. These roles complement rather than replace government functions, particularly by addressing gaps in formal guidance for elderly and health-vulnerable pilgrims and reducing procedural errors and anxiety. Despite broad national coverage, reaching 1,577 units by July 2025, KBIHU continues to face challenges related to uneven service quality, limited counselor competence, and weak monitoring mechanisms. The study concludes that strengthening KBIHU’s institutional legitimacy and service quality through standardized training modules, accreditation, separation of financial roles, and indicator-based evaluation is essential to ensure safe, equitable, and spiritually meaningful Hajj services in Indonesia amid rising pilgrim numbers. This study contributes to Hajj management and Islamic public service literature by clarifying the institutional evolution and strategic role of KBIHU in community-based pilgrim guidance.]]>
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