The Virtues of Hajj and Umrah
There are many hadiths concerning the virtues of Hajj and Umrah. Some of them are mentioned below:
1. Hajj is one of the best deeds. It is narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was asked, “Which deed is the best?”
«فَقَالَ إِيمَانٌ بِاللهِ وَرَسُولِهِ قِيلَ ثُمَّ مَاذَا قَالَ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ قِيلَ ثُمَّ مَاذَا قَالَ حَجٌّ مَبْرُور».
He said, “Faith in Allah and His Messenger.” He was asked, “Then what?” He said, “Jihad in the path of Allah.” He was asked, “Then which one?” He said, “An accepted Hajj.”[1] In another hadith, it is narrated that a man asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) about the best deed. In reply, he said,
«الإِيمَانُ بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ، ثُمَّ الْجِهَادُ، ثُمَّ حَجَّةٌ بَرَّةٌ تَفْضُلُ سَائِرَ الْعَمَلِ كَمَا بَيْنَ مَطْلِعِ الشَّمْسِ إِلَى مَغْرِبِهَا».
“Faith in Allah alone; then a Mabrur Hajj, which is superior to all other deeds, just as the difference between sunrise and sunset.”[2]
2. The reward for a sin-free Hajj is Paradise. It is narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,
«وَالْحَجُّ الْمَبْرُورُ لَيْسَ لَهُ جَزَاءٌ إِلاَّ الْجَنَّةُ».
“The reward for a Mabrur Hajj is nothing but Paradise.”[3]
3. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) regarded Hajj as jihad. It is narrated from Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said, “O Messenger of Allah, jihad is regarded as the best deed. Should we not engage in jihad?” He said,
«لَكُنَّ أَفْضَلَ الْجِهَادِ حَجٌّ مَبْرُورٌ».
“The best jihad for you is a Mabrur Hajj.”[4] In another hadith, it is narrated that Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said, “O Messenger of Allah, should we not accompany you in jihad and military expeditions?” He said,
«لَكُنَّ أَحْسَنُ الْجِهَادِ وَأَجْمَلُهُ الْحَجُّ حَجٌّ مَبْرُورٌ».
“The best and most excellent jihad for you is Hajj—a Mabrur Hajj.”[5] It is narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,
«جِهَادُ الْكَبِيرِ ، وَالصَّغِيرِ ، وَالضَّعِيفِ ، وَالْمَرْأَةِ : الْحَجُّ ، وَالْعُمْرَةُ».
“The jihad of the elderly, minors, the weak, and women is Hajj and Umrah.”[6]
4. Hajj expiates sins. It is narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,
«مَنْ حَجَّ لِلَّهِ فَلَمْ يَرْفُثْ وَلَمْ يَفْسُقْ رَجَعَ كَيَوْمِ وَلَدَتْهُ أُمُّهُ».
“Whoever performs Hajj for Allah, abstains from deeds and words involving sexual conduct, and refrains from acts not permitted by the Shari‘ah, returns as pure as he was on the day his mother gave birth to him.”[7]
The meaning of this hadith is further substantiated by the hadith narrated from Amr ibn al-As (may Allah be pleased with him), to whom the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,
«أَمَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ الإِسْلاَمَ يَهْدِمُ مَا كَانَ قَبْلَهُ وَأَنَّ الْهِجْرَةَ تَهْدِمُ مَا كَانَ قَبْلَهَا وَأَنَّ الْحَجَّ يَهْدِمُ مَا كَانَ قَبْلَهُ».
“Do you not know that embracing Islam erases all the sins committed before it, migration erases all the sins committed before it, and Hajj erases all the sins committed before it?”[8]
5. Like Hajj, Umrah also expiates sins. It is narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,
«مَنْ أَتَى هَذَا الْبَيْتَ فَلَمْ يَرْفُثْ وَلَمْ يَفْسُقْ رَجَعَ كَمَا وَلَدَتْهُ أُمُّهُ».
“Whoever comes to this House, then abstains from deeds and words involving sexual conduct and refrains from acts contrary to the Shari‘ah, returns as he was on the day his mother gave birth to him—sinless.” According to Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, both the person performing Hajj and the person performing Umrah are meant here.[9]
6. In addition to expiating sins, Hajj and Umrah also remove the poverty of those who perform them. It is narrated from Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said, “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,
«تَابِعُوا بَيْنَ الْحَجِّ وَالْعُمْرَةِ، فَإِنَّهُمَا يَنْفِيَانِ الْفَقْرَ وَالذُّنُوبَ كَمَا يَنْفِي الْكِيرُ خَبَثَ الْحَدِيدِ، وَالذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ».
“Perform Hajj and Umrah successively, for they remove poverty and sins just as a blacksmith’s bellows removes impurities from iron, gold, and silver.”[10]
7. Those who perform Hajj and Umrah are Allah’s guests or representatives. It is narrated from Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,
«الْغَازِي فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ ، وَالْحَاجُّ وَالْمُعْتَمِرُ ، وَفْدُ اللهِ ، دَعَاهُمْ ، فَأَجَابُوهُ ، وَسَأَلُوهُ ، فَأَعْطَاهُمْ».
“The one who fights victoriously in the path of Allah, the pilgrim performing Hajj, and the pilgrim performing Umrah are Allah’s guests or representatives. Allah called them, and they responded to His call. They asked Him, and He gave them.”[11] In another hadith, it is narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,
«الْحُجَّاجُ وَالْعُمَّارُ ، وَفْدُ اللهِ إِنْ دَعَوْهُ أَجَابَهُمْ ، وَإِنِ اسْتَغْفَرُوهُ غَفَرَ لَهُمْ».
“Those who perform Hajj and Umrah are Allah’s guests or representatives. If they call upon Allah, He responds to their call. If they seek His forgiveness, He forgives them.”[12]
8. One Umrah to the next is an expiation for the sins committed between them. It is narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,
«الْعُمْرَةُ إِلَى الْعُمْرَةِ كَفَّارَةٌ لِمَا بَيْنَهُمَا».
“One Umrah to another is an expiation for whatever sins occur between them.”[13]
9. Even if a person dies after setting out with the intention of performing Hajj, he will continue to receive the reward of Hajj. It is narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,
«مَنْ خَرَجَ حَاجًّا فَمَاتَ كُتِبَ لَهُ أَجْرُ الْحَاجِّ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ وَمَنْ خَرَجَ مُعْتَمِرًا فَمَاتَ كُتِبَ لَهُ أَجْرُ الْمُعْتَمِرِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ».
“Whoever sets out for Hajj and then dies will continue to have the reward of Hajj recorded for him until the Day of Resurrection. And whoever sets out for Umrah and dies will continue to have the reward of Umrah recorded for him until the Day of Resurrection.”[14]
10. Allah Most High has granted great distinction to performing Umrah during Ramadan and has endowed it with a reward equivalent to performing Hajj with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). It is narrated from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,
«فَإِنَّ عُمْرَةً فِي رَمَضَانَ تَقْضِي حَجَّةً أَوْ حَجَّةً مَعِي».
“Indeed, performing Umrah during Ramadan is equivalent to performing Hajj,” or he said, “equivalent to performing Hajj with me.”[15]
11. When one sets out for the House of Allah, a good deed is recorded, a sin is forgiven, and one’s rank is elevated with every step. It is narrated from Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,
«أَمَّا خُرُوجُكَ مِنْ بَيْتِكَ تَؤُمُّ الْبَيْتَ فَإِنَّ لَكَ بِكُلِّ وَطْأَةٍ تَطَأُهَا رَاحِلَتُكَ يَكْتُبُ اللَّهُ لَكَ بِهَا حَسَنَةً وَيَمْحُو عَنْكَ بِهَا سَيِّئَةً».
“When you leave your home heading for the House of Allah, every time your mount places a foot on the ground and lifts it, a good deed will be recorded for you and a sin will be forgiven.”[16]
It is narrated from Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,
«فَإِنَّكَ إِذَا خَرَجْتَ مِنْ بَيْتِكَ تَؤُمُّ الْبَيْتَ الْحَرَامِ ، لا تَضَعُ نَاقَتُكَ خُفًّا وَلا تَرْفَعُهُ إِلَّا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكَ بِهِ حَسَنَةً ، وَحَطَّ عَنْكَ بِهِ خَطِيئَةً ، وَرَفَعَكَ دَرَجَةً»
“For when you leave your home heading for the House of Allah, every time your she-camel places down and lifts a hoof, a good deed will be recorded for you, one of your sins will be forgiven, and your rank will be elevated.”[17]
It should be remembered that only the one who performs deeds solely to please Allah and completes Hajj and Umrah in accordance with the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) will attain these virtues. There are two conditions for any deed to be accepted by Allah, and both must be fulfilled.
The first condition: It must be done solely to attain Allah’s pleasure. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,
«إِنَّمَا الأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ، وَإِنَّمَا لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مَا نَوَى»
“The outcome of all deeds depends upon intentions. Everyone will receive what he intended.”[18]
The second condition: It must conform to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), for he said,
«مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلاً لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرُنَا فَهْوَ رَدٌّ».
“Whoever performs a deed that does not have our approval, it is rejected.”[19]
Therefore, only the deed of one whose deed is solely intended to please Allah and is in accordance with the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) will be accepted by Allah. On the other hand, if both conditions or either one of them is absent from a person’s deed, it will be rejected. Regarding their deeds, Allah says,
﴿ وَقَدِمۡنَآ إِلَىٰ مَا عَمِلُواْ مِنۡ عَمَلٖ فَجَعَلۡنَٰهُ هَبَآءٗ مَّنثُورًا ٢٣ ﴾ [الفرقان: ٢٢]
“And We shall turn to whatever deeds they did, and then reduce them to scattered dust.”[20]
On the other hand, regarding the deeds of one who fulfills both conditions, Allah says,
﴿ وَمَنۡ أَحۡسَنُ قَوۡلٗا مِّمَّن دَعَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَٰلِحٗا وَقَالَ إِنَّنِي مِنَ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ ٣٣ ﴾ [فصلت: ٣٣]
“And who is better in religion than one who submits himself completely to Allah while being a doer of good?”[21] Allah further says,
﴿ بَلَىٰۚ مَنۡ أَسۡلَمَ وَجۡهَهُۥ لِلَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحۡسِنٞ فَلَهُۥٓ أَجۡرُهُۥ عِندَ رَبِّهِۦ وَلَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ يَحۡزَنُونَ ١١٢ ﴾ [البقرة: ١١٢]
“Yes, whoever submits himself to Allah and is also a doer of good will have his reward with his Lord. They will have no fear, nor will they grieve.”[22]
Thus, the hadith narrated by Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), “The outcome of all deeds depends upon intentions,” is the criterion for the deeds of the heart, while the hadith narrated by Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her), “Whoever performs a deed that does not have my approval, it is rejected,” is the criterion for the deeds of the limbs. These two hadiths are comprehensive in meaning. None of the fundamentals and branches of the religion, nor any deed of the heart or limbs, falls outside their scope. In a word, the entire religion is encompassed by them.
[1]. Bukhari: 62; Muslim: 38.
[2]. Ahmad: 4/342.
[3]. Bukhari: 3771; Muslim: 9431.
[4]. Bukhari: 4872.
[5]. Fath al-Bari: 4/1861.
[6]. Nasa’i: 2/557.
[7]. Bukhari: 1521; Muslim: 1350.
[8]. Muslim: 121.
[9]. Fath al-Bari: 3/382.
[10]. Tirmidhi: 810.
[11]. Ibn Majah: 2893; Ibn Hibban: 3400; Musnad Ahmad: 1489.
[12]. Ibn Majah: 2883.
[13]. Bukhari: 1773; Muslim: 1394.
[14]. Sahih al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib: 1114.
[15]. Bukhari: 1863; Muslim: 1256.
[16]. Tabarani, al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir: 11/55.
[17]. Sahih al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib: 1112.
[18]. Bukhari: 1/9; Muslim: 3/1515.
[19]. Muslim: 3/344.
[20]. Al-Furqan: 23.
[21]. Al-Nisa: 125.
[22]. Al-Baqarah: 112.
Hajj, Umrah, and Ziyarah
Chapter One: What Are Hajj and Umrah, Why Are They Performed, and When?
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