—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—that he was asked, ‘Which deed is best?’ He replied, ‘Faith in Allah and His Messenger.’ He was asked, ‘Then what?’ He replied, ‘Jihad in Allah’s cause.’ He was asked, ‘Then what?’ He replied, ‘An accepted Hajj.’”

Allah Most High has said:

“Do you consider providing water for pilgrims and maintaining the Sacred Mosque equal to believing in Allah and the Last Day and striving in Allah’s cause? They are not equal in Allah’s sight. And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.”

“Those who believe, emigrate, and strive in Allah’s cause with their wealth and their lives are greater in rank in Allah’s sight,” up to His words: “Indeed, with Allah is a great reward.”

As for the saying, “Whoever visits my grave is assured of my intercession,” this hadith was reportedly narrated by al-Dāraqutnī with a weak chain of transmission. For this reason, more than one scholar included it among fabricated reports. None of the compilers of the recognized Sahīh, Sunan, or Musnad collections narrated it.

As for the other hadith, “Whoever performs Hajj to the House but does not visit me has treated me with disregard,” no scholar of hadith has narrated it. Rather, it is a fabrication attributed to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Its meaning contradicts scholarly consensus, for treating the Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, with disregard is a major sin—indeed, it is disbelief and hypocrisy. Rather, he must be dearer to us than our families and our wealth, as he said, may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“By Him in whose hand is my soul, none of you believes until I am dearer to him than his father, his child, and all people.”