“Mabrur means accepted. Hajj Mabrur means an accepted Hajj. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said,
«وَالْحَجُّ الْمَبْرُورُ لَيْسَ لَهُ جَزَاءٌ إِلاَّ الْجَنَّةُ».
‘And there is no reward for an accepted Hajj other than Paradise.’[1] Therefore, for our Hajj to be Mabrur or accepted, we should pay attention to the following matters.
Lawful earnings
The journey of Hajj is a journey in which supplications are accepted. Even so, if it is undertaken with unlawful wealth, the question of its not being accepted naturally arises. It is stated in a hadith that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
«أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، إِنَّ اللهَ طَيِّبٌ لَا يَقْبَلُ إِلَّا طَيِّبًا، وَإِنَّ اللهَ أَمَرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِمَا أَمَرَ بِهِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ، فَقَالَ: (يَا أَيُّهَا الرُّسُلُ كُلُوا مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَاعْمَلُوا صَالِحًا، إِنِّي بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ) [المؤمنون: 51] وَقَالَ: (يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُلُوا مِنْ طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ) [البقرة: 172] ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ الرَّجُلَ يُطِيلُ السَّفَرَ أَشْعَثَ أَغْبَرَ، يَمُدُّ يَدَيْهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ، يَا رَبِّ، يَا رَبِّ، وَمَطْعَمُهُ حَرَامٌ، وَمَشْرَبُهُ حَرَامٌ، وَمَلْبَسُهُ حَرَامٌ، وَغُذِيَ بِالْحَرَامِ، فَأَنَّى يُسْتَجَابُ لِذَلِكَ؟»
‘O people, indeed Allah is Pure and accepts only what is pure. And Allah has commanded the believers to do that which He commanded the Prophets. Thus, Allah Most High said, “O Messengers! Eat from the pure things and do righteous deeds.” (Surah Al-Mu’minun, verse 51) He also said, “O you who believe! Eat from the pure things that We have provided for you and give thanks to Allah, if it is indeed Him alone that you worship.”’ (Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 172)
Then he mentioned a man who, on a long journey, with dishevelled hair and dust-covered feet, raises both hands toward the sky and supplicates, saying, “O Lord! O Lord!” Yet his food is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothing is unlawful, and his body has been nourished with unlawful things. So how can his supplication be accepted?’”[2]
Abandoning the desire to show off or seek fame
It is narrated from Anas ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said,
«اَللّهُمَّ حَجَّةً لاَ رِيَاءَ فِيْهَا وَلاَ سُمْعَةَ».
‘O Allah, grant the ability to perform a Hajj that is free from showing off and the desire to seek fame.’[3]
Providing food and speaking good words
It is narrated from Jabir ibn Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was asked, “What makes a Hajj Mabrur?” He replied,
«إِطْعَامُ الطَّعَامِ وَطِيبُ الْكَلاَمِ».
‘Providing food and speaking good and pleasant words.’[4] It is narrated from Khallad ibn Abdur Rahman that he said: I asked Sa‘id ibn Jubayr, “Which pilgrim is the best?” He replied, “The one who provides food and controls his tongue.” He said, “Al-Thawri told me: We have heard that this is Hajj Mabrur.”[5]
Exchanging greetings of peace
It is narrated from Jabir ibn Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was asked, “By what deeds does a Hajj become Mabrur?” He replied,
«إِطْعَامُ الطَّعَامِ، وَإِفْشَاءُ السَّلَامِ».
‘By providing food and frequently exchanging greetings of peace.’[6]
Reciting the Talbiyah and offering a sacrifice
It is narrated from Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was asked, “Which deed in Hajj carries the greatest reward?” He replied, الْعَجُّ وَالثَّجُّ ‘Reciting the Talbiyah aloud and causing the blood of the sacrificial animal to flow.’[7]
Showing good neighbourly conduct
It is narrated from Abdullah ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said, ‘The most virtuous deeds during Hajj are providing food and showing good neighbourly conduct.’[8]
Patience, Taqwa and good conduct
It is narrated from Thawr ibn Yazid that he said, ‘Whoever intends to visit this House, the Ka‘bah, but does not possess three qualities, his Hajj is not safe: patience, by which he will restrain his ignorance; Taqwa, which will keep him away from what Allah has forbidden; and good conduct toward his companions.’[9]
Disinterest in this world and interest in the Hereafter
A man said to Hasan al-Basri, “O Abu Sa‘id, which Hajj is Mabrur?” He replied, ‘The Hajj that makes one disinterested in this world and interested in the Hereafter.’[10]
Improvement in one’s condition after Hajj compared to before it
When a pilgrim sets out on the journey of Hajj, enters the sacred land, then completes Hajj and returns to his own country, we can observe him and determine whether his condition has improved. If his condition has improved in his conduct toward others, his dealings, trustworthiness, fulfilment of others’ rights and steadfastness in worship, then it should be understood that his Hajj has become Mabrur.’
In short, various explanations of Hajj Mabrur have been narrated from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. This is because Hajj becomes Mabrur in two ways: first, good conduct toward people; and second, complete observance of the rulings of Hajj.
The matter of good conduct toward people is broad. Expressing its broad scope, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said,
«أَنْ تُعِيْنَ الرَّجُلُ عَلَى دَابَّتِهِ، تَحْمِلُهُ عَلَيْهَا وَتَدُلُّهُ عَلَى الطَّرِيْقِ، كُلُّ ذَلِكَ صَدَقَةٌ»
‘Helping a person mount his riding animal, lifting him onto it and showing him the way—all of these are charity.’[11] Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, used to say,
«البرُّ شيءٌ هيِّنٌ : وجهٌ طليقٌ وكلامٌ ليِّنٌ.
‘Good deeds are very easy: a smiling face and gentle words.’[12]
Since people of diverse temperaments and from different environments gather from all parts of the world during the Hajj season, Allah Most High has taught in the Noble Qur’an that these differences and disparities should be overcome, all forms of dispute and quarrelling avoided, and everyone united in a spirit of brotherhood and harmony. Allah Most High says,
﴿ ٱلۡحَجُّ أَشۡهُرٞ مَّعۡلُومَٰتٞۚ فَمَن فَرَضَ فِيهِنَّ ٱلۡحَجَّ فَلَا رَفَثَ وَلَا فُسُوقَ وَلَا جِدَالَ فِي ٱلۡحَجِّۗ ﴾ [البقرة: ١٩٧]
‘Hajj is during well-known months. Therefore, whoever makes Hajj obligatory upon himself during those months must not engage in obscenity, sinful conduct or quarrelling during Hajj.’[13]
In summary, that is Hajj Mabrur in which all forms of goodness are fully combined; in which all the pillars, obligatory acts, Sunnahs and recommended acts of Hajj are performed completely; and in which all kinds of sins and transgressions are avoided. Indeed, whoever performs Hajj completely, along with all its obligatory acts, Sunnahs and recommended acts, will certainly refrain from sinful conduct during this blessed journey.’
And since Paradise alone is the reward for Hajj Mabrur, whoever sets out on this journey and completes Hajj by properly observing all its rulings, in reality returns with Paradise. After death, Paradise will be his abode. Therefore, it is in no way appropriate for the fortunate person whom Allah Most High has honoured with this blessing and favour to carelessly lose this blessing or deprive himself of this great reward through deeds that contradict the teachings of Hajj. Rather, he should preserve this blessing at any cost.
Every Muslim should know that travelling to Makkah for Hajj is a special gift and favour from Allah. No one can go there by virtue of his wealth, physical strength, personal power or status. This is why the commentators of the Qur’an have said that when Ibrahim, peace be upon him, first laid its foundations and built the Ka‘bah, Allah Most High revealed to him, ‘O Ibrahim, call mankind to come to the Ka‘bah.’ He said, ‘O my Lord, how far will my voice reach? How will my invitation reach all of them?’ Allah Most High said, ‘Your duty is to call, and My duty is to convey it.’ Thereafter, Ibrahim, peace be upon him, stood at Maqam Ibrahim and called out in a loud voice, ‘O mankind, Allah has built a House for you, so come to it.’ At this call, all those who would perform Hajj in the future said, ‘Labbayk.’ Even all those who will come until the Day of Resurrection responded from the backs of their forefathers. Whoever said ‘Labbayk’ once will perform Hajj once. Whoever said ‘Labbayk’ twice will perform Hajj twice. A person will be destined to perform Hajj as many times as he said it.[14]
This is why, when a pilgrim begins the rites of Hajj, his slogan is, ‘Labbayk Allahumma Labbayk.’ Lexically, Labbayk means responding to a call or giving an answer. When someone calls another person and he replies, ‘Labbayk,’ it means, ‘I am here. I am ready to obey your command. I am responding to your call,’ and so on. Therefore, when a pilgrim begins the rites of Hajj by saying ‘Labbayk,’ he is essentially responding to that call of Ibrahim, peace be upon him.
In short, being able to go for Hajj is solely a favour from Allah Most High. Everyone knows that many people from his own community have not received this good fortune, even though they far surpass him in wealth, manpower, strength and status. Had Allah not shown mercy to him, he could not have performed Hajj. If someone is honoured with this good fortune, it should be understood that it is solely through Allah’s mercy. Subhanallah! ‘Paradise alone is the reward for Hajj Mabrur!’
[1]. Al-Bukhari: 3771; Muslim: 9431.
[2]. Muslim: 1015.
[3]. Sunan Ibn Majah: 2890.
[4]. Al-Mustadrak: 1/1778.
[5]. Musannaf Abd al-Razzaq: 5/8816.
[6]. Musnad Ahmad: 3/325, 334.
[7]. Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 3/189.
[8]. Al-Istidhkar: 4/104.
[9]. Al-Istidhkar: 4/104.
[10]. Al-Istidhkar: 4/104.
[11]. Ibn Khuzaymah: 1493.
[12]. Ibn Rajab, Jami‘ al-‘Ulum wa al-Hikam: 39/8.
[13]. Al-Baqarah: 187.
[14]. Nasb al-Rayah: 3/23.