Performing Hajj or ‘Umrah and praying in the Two Holy Mosques are some of the greatest acts of worship. Therefore, when the Prophet, , was asked about the best deed, he said: “Belief in Allah and His Messenger.”When he was asked about the next deed, he answered:“Doing Jihaad in the cause of Allah.” When he was asked about the next deed, he answered: “An accepted Hajj.” [Al-Bukhari]
Hajj is one of the pillars of Islam and the faith of the Muslim cannot be complete without performing it in the proper legislated way once the person has the ability to do so. Allah The Almighty mentioned some of the benefits that the pilgrim attains; as He Says (what means): {And proclaim to the people theHajj; they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass -* That they may witness benefits for themselves} [Quran 22:27-28]
The religious Sharee‘ah-related benefits are the greatest benefits gained for the Hereafter that bring the person closer to Paradise, distance him from Hell, make the scales of good deeds heavier, and so on. Some of these benefits are:
Paradise is the reward of an accepted Hajj:
Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet, , said:“The performance of two ‘Umrahs expiates the sins committed in the interval between them and the accepted Hajj has no other reward but Paradise.” [Al-Albaani: Saheeh]
The Prophet, , said to ‘Amr ibn Al-‘Aas, may Allah be pleased with him: “Do you not know that Islam effaces all the (previous) misdeeds, Hijrah effaces all the (previous) misdeeds, and also Hajj effaces all the (previous) misdeeds?”[Muslim]
Hajj is one of the best forms of Jihaad in the cause of Allah:
‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said, “I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! We see that Jihaad is the best of deeds; should we not engage in Jihaad?’ He said: ‘For you (women), the best act of Jihaad is to perform Hajj that is accepted (by Allah).’" [Al-Bukhari]
Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet, , said: “The Jihaad of the old, the weak and of women is to perform Hajj and ‘Umrah.” [Al-Albaani: Hasan by virtue of a corroborating narration]
Hajj and ‘Umrah cause richness and purification:
Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet, , said: “Make Hajj and ‘Umrah alternately because both of them rid one of poverty and sins as the blacksmith’s bellows removes all the impurities from iron, gold and silver.” [Ahmad and At-Tirmithi; Al-Albaani: Hasan Saheeh]
Hajj elevates ranks and removes sins:
Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet, , said: “No foot of the pilgrim’s camel moves unless Allah writes for the pilgrim a good deed or removes one of his sins or raises him one rank.”[Al-Albaani: Hasan]
Acceptance of Hajj conditioned with providing food and exchanging the greetings of peace:
Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet, , said: “An accepted Hajj has no reward but Paradise.”He was asked, “How can it be accepted?” He said: “By offering food and saying good words.” [Al-Albaani: Saheeh by virtue of corroborating narrations] Another narration reads: “By offering food and spreading the greetings of peace.” [Ahmad; Al-Albaani: Hasan]
Supplication of those who perform Hajj or ‘Umrah is accepted:
Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet, , said: “The one who goes out to fight in the cause of Allah, the one who is performing Hajj and the one who is performing ‘Umrah are the visitors of Allah whom He invited and they accepted His invitation and asked Him and He gave to them.” [Al-Albaani: Hasan]
Reward of performing ‘Umrah in Ramadan:
Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet, , said: “The performance of ‘Umrah in Ramadan equals (the reward of performing) Hajj.” [Al-Albaani: Saheeh]
Reward of spending money in Hajj and ‘Umrah:
‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, , said to her during her ‘Umrah: “You will be rewarded proportionally to your pain and expenditure.”[Al-Albaani: Saheeh]
Reward of the one who goes out to perform Hajj or ‘Umrah and then dies:
Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And whoever leaves his home as an emigrant to Allah and His Messenger and then death overtakes him - his reward has already become incumbent upon Allah. And Allah is ever Forgiving and Merciful.} [Quran 4:100]
Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet, , said: “Whoever goes out to perform Hajj and dies, the reward of Hajj will be recorded for him until the Day of Resurrection. Whoever goes out to perform ‘Umrah and dies, the reward of ‘Umrah will be recorded for him until the Day of Resurrection. Whoever goes out for battle in the Cause of Allah and dies, the reward of the fighter in the cause of Allah will be recorded for him until the Day of Resurrection.” [Al-Albaani: Saheeh by virtue of corroborating narrations]
Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, said that while a man was with the Prophet, , during Hajj, he fell from his mount and it kicked him and he died. Consequently, the Messenger of Allah, , said: “Wash him with water and Sidr, shroud him in his two garments, do not put perfume on him and do not cover his head for he will be resurrected on the Day of Judgment saying Talbiyah.” [Al-Albaani: Saheeh]