These days, faithful souls long to perform the Hajj pilgrimage to the House of Allah. We ask Allah to grant us all the opportunity to perform Hajj. The reason for this longing is the desire to engage in one of the most esteemed acts of worship in the eyes of Allah, which is Hajj. It brings about the forgiveness of sins, the earning of rewards, and entry into paradise. Hence, a Muslim hastens to perform Hajj whenever they are able, in response to Allah's command: "And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House – for whoever is able to find thereto a way." (Al-Imran: 97). However, for those who are unable to perform Hajj, they seek the best deeds, the forgiveness of sins, and entry into paradise. So, what is the path to achieving this?
When examining the obligation of prayer, one finds that everyone can perform it. Islam has made prayer encompass all these virtues for those who are unable to perform Hajj. This is evident when we look closely at the hadiths concerning Hajj and the rewards associated with it, as well as the hadiths concerning prayer and the identical rewards associated with it. This can be seen in the following:
Firstly: The Best Deeds:
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) clarified that Hajj is among the best deeds. In a hadith narrated by Bukhari and Muslim, Abu Huraira said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was asked: 'Which deed is the most virtuos ? And which deed is the best ?' He (ﷺ) said: 'Faith in Allah and His Messenger.' It was said: 'Then what ?' He said: 'Jihad is the hump (the most prominent) of the deeds.' Then what O Messenger of Allah ? He said: 'Then Hajj Mabrur.'" In Sahih Bukhari, it is narrated by the Mother of the Believers, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), who said: The women came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and said: "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! We consider Jihad as the best deed. Should we not fight in Allah's Cause?" He said, "The best Jihad (for women) is Hajj-Mabrur".
These hadiths confirm that Hajj is among the best deeds. For those unable to perform Hajj and achieve this esteemed deed, prayer also stands as one of the best deeds. In Sahih Al-Jami, Abdullah ibn Masood said: I asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) about the best deeds and he said: “-to offer Salat (prayer) in its early time.” Therefore, whoever maintains performing prayer on time has achieved one of the best deeds.
Secondly: Forgiveness of Sins
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) affirmed that Hajj is a means for the forgiveness of sins. In Sahih Bukhari and Muslim, Abu Huraira said: I heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) say: “If anyone performs the pilgrimage for God’s sake without talking immodestly or acting wickedly, he will return [free from sin] as on the day his mother bore him.” In Sahih Muslim, when Amr ibn al-As came to declare his Islam before the Prophet (peace be upon him), he said to the Prophet: “Stretch out your right hand and let me swear allegiance to you.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) stretched out his hand, but Amr clenched his hand. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “What is the matter with you, O Amr?” He replied: "I want to make a condition." The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked: “What condition do you want to make?” Amr said: “That I should receive forgiveness.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: “Do you not know, 'Amr, that Islam demolishes what preceded it, that the Hijra demolishes what preceded it, and the Pilgrimage demolishes what preceded it?”
Imam Ahmad, Tirmidhi, and Nasa'i narrated from Abdullah ibn Masood that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Make the hajj and the ‘umra follow one another closely, for they remove poverty and sins as a blacksmith’s bellows remove impurities from iron, gold and silver” These hadiths confirm that Hajj is a means to forgiveness of sins. For those unable to achieve forgiveness through Hajj, prayer also expiates sins, as clarified in authentic hadiths. In Sahih Muslim, Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “The five daily (prescribed) Salat, and Friday (prayer) to the next Friday (prayer), and the fasting of Ramadan to the next Ramadan, is expiation of the sins committed in between them, so long as major sins are avoided.”
Thirdly: Entering Paradise
The hadiths indicate that Hajj is a path to entering Paradise. Bukhari and Muslim narrated in their Sahih collections from Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “An 'umra is an expiation for sins committed between it and the next, but a hajj which is accepted will receive no less a reward than paradise.”
For those unable to enter Paradise through Hajj, prayer also serves as a path to entering Paradise. In Sahih Bukhari and Muslim, Abu Huraira narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “If anyone goes out in the morning or in the evening to the mosque, God will prepare for him his food in paradise as often as he goes out in the morning or in the evening.”
Fourthly: Acts Related to Prayer that Grant the Reward of Hajj
Islam emphasizes certain acts that, when performed by a Muslim, grant the reward of Hajj. Interestingly, these acts are related to prayer, including:
- Praying Fajr in congregation and then remembering Allah until the sun rises and praying two Rak'ahs. In Sahih Al-Jami, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “If anyone, prays the dawn prayer in a company, then sits making mention of God till the sun rises, then prays two rak'as, he will have a reward equivalent to that for a hajja* and an ‘umra. A perfect one, a perfect one, a perfect one.”
- Remembrance after prayer; Ibn Hibban narrated in his Sahih from Abu Huraira that the poor came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and said: “The wealthy people will get higher grades and will have permanent enjoyment and they pray like us and fast as we do. They have more money by which they perform the Hajj, and `Umra; fight and struggle in Allah's Cause and give in charity." The Prophet said, "Shall I not tell you a thing upon which if you acted you would catch up with those who have surpassed you? Nobody would overtake you and you would be better than the people amongst whom you live except those who would do the same. Say "Subhana l-lah", "Al hamdu li l-lah" and "Allahu Akbar" thirty-three times each after every (compulsory) prayer.”
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