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2015 Hajj Disaster "Muslim leaders" must return to Quran

We extend our condolences to the families of the victims of the 2015 Hajj pilgrimage stampede.

Why did this happen during a pilgrimage that God asks His followers to observe? We are told in Quran that once in a lifetime, Hajj and `Umrah are decreed for those who can afford it (Quran 3:97). The Hajj Pilgrimage must be observed during the four Sacred Months — Zul-Hijjah, Muharram, Safar, & Rabi` I (12th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd months) (Quran 2:197; 9:2, 36). Like all other duties in Islam, Hajj has been distorted. The religious leaders and scholars have restricted Hajj to a few days in Zul-Hijjah, and they consider Rajab, Zul-Qi'dah, Zul-Hijjah, and Muharram (7th, 11th, 12th, 1st months) to be the Sacred Months. This is a distortion that is strongly condemned (Quran 9:37).

The Four Months of Hajj (Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram, Safar, & Rabi I)

[2:197] Hajj shall be observed in the specified months.* Whoever sets out to observe Hajj shall refrain from sexual intercourse, misconduct, and arguments throughout Hajj. Whatever good you do, GOD is fully aware thereof. As you prepare your provisions for the journey, the best provision is righteousness. You shall observe Me, O you who possess intelligence.

*2:197 Hajj can be observed any time during the Sacred Months: Zul-Hijjah, Muharram, Safar, and Rabi I. Local governments restrict Hajj to a few days for their own convenience. See 9:37

God's system is to spread the pilgrimage over four months, not a few days. The religious leaders and local governments have abandoned God's system in Quran and instead force over two million people to observe Hajj during a few days in Zul-Hijjah.

As a consequence, thousands of people and their families have been victimized in a series of disasters due to overcrowding. This year alone over 700 people were killed and hundreds injured in a stampede on September 24th.

The only way to avoid such disasters during the Hajj pilgrimage is for the "Muslim leadership" to realize that God's laws are always best for us. May God guide the people to observe His laws and commandments and to abandon the unjust laws of the "Muslim scholars" whose advice is contrary to God's teachings.

References

[1] Religious Duties: A Gift From God, http://www.masjidtucson.org/quran/appendices/appendix15.html#pilgrimage

[2] "2015 Hajj stampede", https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Hajj_stampede

[3] "Incidents during the Hajj", https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incidents_during_the_Hajj#Stampedes_and_failures_of_crowd_control

Editorial, September 2015