Subject: [Masjid Tucson] Submission weekly reminder

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Peace be upon you,

	The Four Months of Hajj (Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram, Safar, & Rabi I)
[Quran 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 tells us that Hajj can be observed during any of the four Sacred Months (Quran 2:197). By restricting Hajj to a few days, local governments make the Hajj pilgrimage very difficult for the pilgrims. This year due to COVID19, the Saudi government was only able to allow a token number of pilgrims. It goes to show that following God's system is always the best thing for us. Man-made religious innovations are not only wrong, but also a source of hardship.

Another Hajj-time innovation relates to the practice of "Eid al-adha" or festival of sacrifice on the 10th day of Zul-Hijjah. God's system is that those participating in Hajj make a livestock offering (Quran 22:33-36). The rest of us who had no intent to perform Hajj, do not make such an offering to the sacred shrine. However, man-made laws have led some to innovate extra prayers and mandatory animal sacrifices for all Muslims worldwide.

May God guide us and help us to observe only His laws.


References:
Religious Duties: A Gift From God [Pilgrimage], https://masjidtucson.org/quran/appendices/appendix15.html#pilgrimage
Eid-ul-Adha festivity is not a religious requirement, https://masjidtucson.org/submission/questions/questions.html#oct2012_hajj

Peace.