Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet was asked, "Which is the best deed?" The Prophet said: "To believe in Allah and His Messenger." He was then asked, "Which is the next (in goodness)?" The Prophet said: "To participate in Jihaad in the Cause of Allah." The questioner then asked, "Which is the next (in goodness)?" He replied: "To perform Hajj Mabroor, (i.e., Hajj which is done according to the Prophet's tradition and is accepted by Allah)." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Abu Hurayrah also reported that the Prophet said: “Whoever performs Hajj and does not approach his wife for sexual relations nor commits sins (while performing Hajj), he will come out as sinless as a newly-born child (just delivered by his mother).” [Al-Bukhari, Muslim, An-Nasaa’i, and Ibn Maajah] At-Tirmithi cited the same narration with a slightly different wording. His version reads: “Whoever performs Hajj to this House and does not commit any obscenity or wrongdoing, his past sins will be forgiven.”

Abu Hurayrah also reported that the Prophet said: “(The performance of) ‘Umrah is an expiation for the sins committed (between it and the previous one); and the reward of Hajj Mabroor (the one accepted by Allah) is nothing except Paradise.” [Al-Bukhari, Muslim, At-Tirmithi, An-Nasaa’i, and Ibn Maajah]

Ibn Shimaasah said,

“We went to ‘Amr ibn Al-‘Aas and he was dying. He wept for a long time and turned his face towards the wall. His son said, 'Did the Messenger of Allah not give you tidings of this? Did the Messenger of Allah not give you tidings of this?'"

He (the narrator) said,

“He turned his face (towards the audience) and said, 'The best thing which we can count upon is the testimony that there is none worthy of worship but Allah and that Muhammad is the Apostle of Allah . Verily I have passed through three phases. (The first one) in which I found myself averse to nothing else more than the Messenger of Allah and there was no other desire stronger in me than that I should overpower him and kill him. Had I died in this state, I would have been definitely one of the denizens of the Fire.

When Allah instilled love for Islam in my heart, I came to the Prophet and said, 'Stretch out your right hand so that I may pledge my allegiance to you.” He stretched out his right hand. I withdrew my hand. He said: 'What is wrong, ‘Amr?' I replied, 'I intend to lay down a condition.' The Prophet asked: 'What condition do you intend to put forward?' I said, 'That I should be granted pardon.' The Prophet observed: 'Are you not aware of the fact that Islam wipes out all the previous sins, and that Hijrah [migration] wipes out all the previous sins, and that Hajj wipes out all the previous sins.'

And then no one was as dear to me as the Messenger of Allah and no one was more sublime in my eyes than he. Never could I pluck enough courage to catch a full glimpse of his face due to its splendor. So, if I am asked to describe his features, I cannot do that for I did not gaze upon him fully. Had I died in this state I had every reason to hope that I would have been among the dwellers of Paradise. Then we were responsible for certain things (in the light of which) I am unable to know what is in store for me.

When I die, let neither female mourner nor fire accompany me. When you bury me, fill my grave well with earth, then stand around it for the time within which a camel is slaughtered and its meat is distributed so that I may enjoy your intimacy and (in your company) ascertain what answer I can give to the messengers (angels) of Allah.'" [Muslim and others] [A brief version of the narration was cited in Saheeh Ibn Khuzaymah]

Al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali reported that a man said to the Prophet “I am a coward and a weak person [I cannot participate in Jihaad). Is there anything I can do?” The Prophet said: “Hasten to the Jihaad that does not involve fighting: Hajj.” [Saheeh] [At-Tabaraani with trustworthy narrators, and ‘Abdur-Razzaaq]

‘Aa’ishah reported that she once said to the Prophet “‘O Prophet of Allah! We consider Jihaad (striving or fighting in the Cause of Allah) the best deed. Should not we (women) then actively participate in it?’ The Prophet replied: ‘The best Jihaad for you is Hajj Mabroor.’” [Al-Bukhari, Ibn Khuzaymah in his Saheeh and others]

The wording of Ibn Khuzaymah’s version reads, “‘…O Messenger of Allah! Should the women participate in Jihaad?’ The Prophet said: ‘They should participate in Jihaad that involves no fighting: Hajj and ‘Umrah.’”

People Who Pass Away While on Hajj and ‘Umrah - II