In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful
Imam al-Nawawi records in his book Meadows of the Righteous:
باب وجوب الحج وفضله
Chapter on the obligation of Hajj pilgrimage and its virtues.
Source: Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn 1/357
Allah Almighty said:
فِيهِ آيَاتٌ بَيِّنَاتٌ مَّقَامُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمَن دَخَلَهُ كَانَ آمِنًا وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ
In it are clear signs and the standing-place of Abraham. Whoever enters it should be safe. Pilgrimage to this House is an obligation by Allah upon whoever is able among the people. And whoever disbelieves, then surely Allah is not in need of any of His creation.
Surat Ali ‘Imran 3:97
And Allah said:
وَأَذِّن فِي النَّاسِ بِالْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالًا وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ ضَامِرٍ يَأْتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍ
Call people to the pilgrimage. They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel from every distant path.
Surat al-Hajj 22:27
Ibn Umar reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
بُنِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ عَلَى أَنْ يُعْبَدَ اللَّهُ وَيُكْفَرَ بِمَا دُونَهُ وَإِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ وَحَجِّ الْبَيْتِ وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ
Islam is built upon five: to worship Allah and to disbelieve in what is worshiped besides Him, to establish prayer, to give charity, to perform the Hajj pilgrimage to the house, and to fast the month of Ramadan.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 8, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was asked, “What is the most virtuous deed?” The Prophet said:
إِيمَانٌ بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ
Faith in Allah and His Messenger.
It was said, “Then what?” The Prophet said:
جِهَادٌ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ
Jihad in the way of Allah.
It was said, “Then what?” The Prophet said:
حَجٌّ مَبْرُورٌ
A blessed Hajj pilgrimage.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1519, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
مَنْ حَجَّ هَذَا الْبَيْتَ فَلَمْ يَرْفُثْ وَلَمْ يَفْسُقْ رَجَعَ كَمَا وَلَدَتْهُ أُمُّهُ
Whoever performs the Hajj pilgrimage to this house, without having intimate relations or committing sin, he will return pure of sin like the day he was born from his mother.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1819, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
الْعُمْرَةُ إِلَى الْعُمْرَةِ كَفَّارَةٌ لِمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَالْحَجُّ الْمَبْرُورُ لَيْسَ لَهُ جَزَاءٌ إِلَّا الْجَنَّةُ
The ‘Umrah pilgrimage to the following ‘Umrah will expiate whatever sins were committed between them, and the blessed Hajj pilgrimage has no reward other than Paradise.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1773, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Aisha reported: I said, “O Messenger of Allah, shall we not attend the military expeditions and fight in jihad alongside you?” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
لَكِنَّ أَحْسَنَ الْجِهَادِ وَأَجْمَلَهُ الْحَجُّ حَجٌّ مَبْرُورٌ
No, rather the best and most beautiful jihad for you is the Hajj, a blessed pilgrimage.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1762, Grade: Sahih
In another narration, the Prophet said:
نَعَمْ عَلَيْهِنَّ جِهَادٌ لَا قِتَالَ فِيهِ الْحَجُّ وَالْعُمْرَةُ
Yes, jihad is a duty upon them in which there is no fighting: the Hajj and ‘Umrah pilgrimages.
Source: Sunan Ibn Mājah 2901, Grade: Sahih
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was delivering a sermon to us, saying:
أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ فَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ الْحَجَّ فَحُجُّوا
O people, the Hajj pilgrimage has been made an obligation, so undertake it.
A man said, “O Messenger of Allah, is it prescribed every year?” The Prophet remained silent until the man repeated his question three times. The Prophet said:
لَوْ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ لَوَجَبَتْ وَلَمَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ
If I had said yes, it would have been required and you would not be able to do it.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1337, Grade: Sahih
In another narration, the Prophet said:
ذَرُونِي مَا تَرَكْتُكُمْ فَإِنَّمَا هَلَكَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ بِكَثْرَةِ سُؤَالِهِمْ وَاخْتِلاَفِهِمْ عَلَى أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ فَإِذَا أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِشَىْءٍ فَأْتُوا مِنْهُ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ وَإِذَا نَهَيْتُكُمْ عَنْ شَىْءٍ فَدَعُوهُ
Leave me with what I have left you. Verily, those before you were only ruined because they excessively questioned and disputed with their Prophets. If I command you to do something, then do it as much as you can. If I prohibit you from something, then avoid it.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1337, Grade: Sahih
Aisha reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
مَا مِنْ يَوْمٍ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ أَنْ يُعْتِقَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ عَبْدًا مِنْ النَّارِ مِنْ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ وَإِنَّهُ لَيَدْنُو ثُمَّ يُبَاهِي بِهِمْ الْمَلَائِكَةَ فَيَقُولُ مَا أَرَادَ هَؤُلَاءِ
There is no day upon which Allah frees more of His servants from the Hellfire than the day of ‘Arafat. He draws near and then He boasts of them to the angels, saying, ‘What do these servants want?’
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1348, Grade: Sahih
Ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
فَإِذَا كَانَ رَمَضَانُ اعْتَمِرِي فِيهِ فَإِنَّ عُمْرَةً فِي رَمَضَانَ حَجَّةٌ
Verily, the ‘Umrah pilgrimage during Ramadan is equal to Hajj.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1782, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Al-Fadl reported: A woman from the tribe of Khath’am said, “O Messenger of Allah, my father is an old man and Allah has obligated him to perform the Hajj pilgrimage, but he cannot ride on the back of a camel.” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
فَحُجِّي عَنْهُ
Perform the Hajj pilgrimage on his behalf.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1335, Grade: Sahih
In another narration, the Prophet said:
حُجَّ عَنْ أَبِيكَ وَاعْتَمِرْ
Perform Hajj and ‘Umrah on your father’s behalf.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 930, Grade: Sahih
Ibn Abbas reported: A woman lifted up her child and said, “O Messenger of Allah, is the Hajj pilgrimage for this child?” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
نَعَمْ وَلَكِ أَجْرٌ
Yes, you will have a reward.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1336, Grade: Sahih
Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: Dhul al-Majaz, ‘Ukazha, and Matjar were markets people attended in the time of ignorance. When Islam came, the companions disliked that during the Hajj season until the verse was revealed:
لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَنْ تَبْتَغُوا فَضْلًا مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ
There is no blame on you for seeking the bounty of your Lord during this journey. (2:198)
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1770, Grade: Sahih
Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.
