There are glad tidings given on performing Hajj and stern warnings are given on its non-performance….. The reason for this seems to be that some forms of worship are only physical like Salaat, fasting, etc. Some are only monetary like Zakaat, charity, etc. Hajj combines both these forms of worship.
A considerable amount of money also has to be spent and the difficulties of travel also have to be borne. Travel itself is such a hardship that 4 Raka’at has been reduced to 2 Raka’at. But here travel itself has been declared as worship. For a worship of such difficulty, it suits Allah’s Mercy that its reward should also be great
This is the reason why after a Hajj, the Hajji should be certain of his (or her) forgiveness by Allah Most High. It is mentioned in Hadith that there is no greater sinner than a person who is standing in the plain of ‘Arafah, on the day of Hajj, and thinks that he (or she) has not been forgiven.
Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with them) says: Once, I was sitting with the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) in Mina that 2 people came. One was an Ansari and the other from the clan of Thaqaf. Both of them greeted the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) with Salaam and said: We have to come to ask You something. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: If you desire so, I will tell what you wanted to ask. Otherwise, you can ask it yourselves.
The Ansari told the Thaqafi: You ask. He said: O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)! Please relate my questions with their answers.
The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: You have come with the intention (to ask) that when you start from your house for the house of Allah i.e. the Ka’aba, what benefit do you gain? When you offer 2 Raka’at of Salaat after the circumambulation, what do you gain? What benefits are there in the Sa’ee of Safa and Marwah, in standing in the plain of ‘Arafah, in stoning the (symbolic) devils, in sacrificing the animal and in Ifadha?
On this, that man said: By Him who has sent You! I have come with the intention of asking these very questions.
The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: When you start from your homes for the Ka’aba, for every step that your dromedary takes a virtue is written for you and a sin is wiped out.
When you offer 2 Raka’at of Salaat after the circumambulation, its reward is as if you have freed a slave who was from the descendents of Hadhrat Isma’eel (May peace be upon him).
The reward of the sa’ee of Safa and Marwah is the reward of freeing 70 slaves.
When you stand in the plain of ‘Arafah, Allah Most High graces the worldly skies with His Presence and proclaims to the angels: Look at My slaves! How they have come from afar…for My sake. Even if their sins are like the grains of sand of a desert or like the drops of water in rain or like the foam of the ocean, I have forgiven them and it is proclaimed to them (i.e. the Hajjis): Return! You have been forgiven.
Then when you stone the (symbolic) devils (Rami Jimaar), with each pebble a fatal major sin is forgiven.
The reward of your sacrifice is deposited with the Lord Almighty.
When you shave your heads, a virtue is granted for every hair and a sin is wiped out.
When you circumambulate the Ka’aba, it is in a state that no sin of yours remains and an angel proclaims: Now start your deeds anew. All your past sins have been forgiven.
[Excerpted from Maqasid Ul Islam, Vol. 4]
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