Merits of Hajj and Umrah
Home » Articles » Pilgrimage » Merits of Hajj and UmrahPilgrimage is an obligatory duty on every muslim.
Allah says “and pilgrimage to the house is a duty that mankind owe to Allah, those who can afford the journey, but if any deny faith, Allah stands not in need of any of his creatures” Al-Emran/97. It is one of the pillars of Islam. Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet (S.A.S.) said: “Islam has been built upon five pillars: testifying that there is no god but Allah, and Mohammed is his messenger, performing prayer, paying zakat, fasting Ramadan, and performing pilgrimage to the house for those who are able”.
The Prophet (S.A.S.) warned against delaying pilgrimage. Ibn Abbas narrated that the Prophet (S.A.S.) said, “Hurry to pilgrimage as nobody knows what will happen to him”. Ali Ibn Abu Talib said, “Who is able to perform pilgrimage and does not do, let him die as a jew or christian”. Also Umar Ibn Al-Khattab said “I was thinking about sending some men to these places to see who are financially able and do not perform pilgrimage and impose the poll tax upon them. They are not muslims, they are not muslims”. Then he was asked “then what?”, he said “striving for the sake of Allah”, then he was asked “then what?”, he said “accepted pilgrimage”.
Islam encourages people to perform hajj. It is one of the best deeds. On the authority of Abu Huraira, the Prophet (S.A.S.) was asked about the best deeds. He said “Believing in Allah and his messenger”,
Pilgrimage wipes off the past sins. Abu Huraira reported that the prophet (S.A.S.) said “He Who performs hajj and avoids lewdness and sins will return after hajj free from all sins as he was the day his mother gave birth to him”. Also the Prophet (S.A.S.), on the authority of Abdullah Ibn Abu Masoud, said “Alternate between hajj and Umrah (regularly) for these two remove poverty and sins just as the blacksmith’s bellows remove all impurities from metals like iron, gold and silver. The reward of hajj mabrour is nothing short of paradise” reported by Annisa’e and Attermithi.
According to Islam, spending on hajj is equal to spending in the cause of Allah. Buraida narrated that the Prophet (S.A.S.) said “spending on hajj is akin to spending in the cause of Allah, and every Derham thus spent will be rewarded as seven hundred times over”.
Parent page: Pilgrimage
