The reward for an accepted Hajj is nothing but Paradise.[1] Whoever performs Hajj and refrains from acts not permitted by the Shari‘ah, and refrains from deeds and words involving sexual contact, returns pure like the day he was born from his mother’s womb.[2] On the Day of ‘Arafah, Allah frees from Hell more people than He does on any other day. On that day, Allah Most High draws near, boasts to the angels about the pilgrims standing on the plain of ‘Arafah, and says, ‘What do they seek?’[3]
A man asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) which deed is the best. He replied, ‘Faith in Allah, the One without equal, and then an accepted Hajj, which is superior to all deeds by a difference like that between sunrise and sunset.’[4] Another hadith states, ‘The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was asked which deed is the best. He replied, “Faith in Allah and His Messenger.” It was asked, “Then what?” He said, “Jihad in the path of Allah.” It was asked, “Then which one?” He said, “An accepted Hajj.”’[5] Once ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), ‘O Messenger of Allah! Should we not accompany you in jihad and military expeditions?’ He said, ‘The best and most excellent jihad for you is Hajj—that is, an accepted Hajj.’[6] ‘Those who perform Hajj and ‘Umrah are Allah’s delegates and guests. If they call upon Allah, Allah responds to their call. If they seek forgiveness for their sins, Allah forgives their sins.’[7] A hadith narrated from Abu Hurayrah states that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, ‘One ‘Umrah to the next ‘Umrah is an expiation for whatever sins occur between them. And the reward for an accepted Hajj is nothing but Paradise.’[8] It is also stated in a hadith that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, ‘A person’s acceptance of Islam wipes away all previously committed sins. Hijrah wipes away all sins committed before it, and Hajj wipes away all sins committed before it.’[9] A hadith narrated from Ibn Mas‘ud states, ‘Perform Hajj and ‘Umrah consecutively, for they remove poverty and sins just as the blacksmith’s bellows remove impurities from iron, gold, and silver. And the reward for an accepted Hajj is nothing but Paradise.’[10]
The statements of the hadiths mentioned above are extremely clear. Therefore, everyone intending to perform Hajj should strive desperately to attain these virtues of the sacred Hajj in full. One should fulfil all the conditions for the acceptance of Hajj and exercise strict self-control, remaining free from all sins and misdeeds.
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[1] - والحج المبرور ليس له جزاء إلا الجنة (Bukhari: Hadith no. 1650)
[2] - فلم يرفث ولم يفسق ، رجع كيوم ولدته أمه من حج لله (Bukhari: Hadith no. 1424)
[3] - Muslim: 2/983
[4] - عن ماعز التميمي ু رضى الله عنه ু عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: أنه سئل أي الأعمال أفضل ؟ قال: إيمان بالله وحده ، ثم حجة برة تفضل سائر الأعمال ، كما بين مطلع الشمس إلى مغربها (Ahmad: 4/342)
[5] - سئل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، أي الأعمال أفضل ؟ قال: الإيمان بالله ورسوله ، قيل: ثم ماذا ؟ قال جهاد في سبيل الله ، قيل ثم ماذا ؟ قال حج مبرور (Bukhari: 1422)
[6] - عن عائشة أم المؤمنين ু رضى الله عنها ু قالت: قلت يارسول الله ، ألا نغزو ونجاهد معكم ؟ قال: لَكُنَّ أفضل الجهاد وأجمله الحج ، حج مبرور (Fath al-Bari, commentary on Bukhari: 4/1861)
[7] - عن أبي هريرة رضى الله عنه ، أن رسول الله قال: الحجاج والعمار وفد الله ، إن دعوه أجابهم وان استغفروه غفر لهم Ibn Majah: Hadith no. 2883)
[8] - عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: العمرة إلى العمرة كفارة لما بينهما ، والحج المبرور ليس له جزاء إلا الجنة ،، (Bukhari: Hadith no. 1650)
[9] - إن الإسلام يهدم ما كان قبله ، و أن الهجرة تهدم ما كان قبلها ، وأن الحج يهدم ما كان قبله ،، (Muslim: Hadith no. 173)
[10] - تابعوا بين الحج والعمرة ، فإنهما ينفيان الفقر والذنوب كما ينفي الكير خبث الحديد والذهب والفضة وليس للحج المبرور ثواب إلا الجنة (Al-Albani: Sahih al-Nasa’i: 2/558)