Could you please tell me whether it is compulsory upon every Muslim going to perform Hajj, to ask forgiveness from people whom they may have had disputes with or done something as such to create conflict? If so is it still compulsory for a person going to Hajj to ask for forgiveness from people even though they may have not had any disputes, etc, with other people? Can a person go and ask forgiveness from a person whom they have no relation or friendship with, that is, whom they don't know?

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

The scholars mentioned that a person going to on pilgrimage (Hajj) has to start with repenting to Allah, and giving back the rights of others.

If someone has a right on him, he has to give it back to him, for instance if he backbited someone he has to ask the person to forgive him, if he has taken the money of someone, he has to give it back to him; if he harmed a person, he has to seek his forgiveness.  He has to give the rights of those with whom he has a close relationship like the family and friends and to say good-bye to his wife and family and to his neighbours.

The reason for this is that an accepted Hajj wipes out all the sins except what has to do with people’s rights.

Many scholars like Qarafi and Haithami mentioned that Hajj does not wipe out the rights of the children of Adam (meaning in relation to one another).

However, some scholars stated that Hajj wipes out the rights of a person if the latter decided to repent and give back people’s rights, and dies during or after Hajj, even if he was unable to give the rights back or to seek forgiveness and be excused by the people he wronged.

As regards the people who have no problems with the person performing Hajj, or who do not know him or had no dealings with him, then he is not obliged to reconcile with them, but there is no harm to greet them when he leaves and ask their forgiveness, because a person may have done something without noticing it.

Allah knows best.