An accepted pilgrimage is one in which the pilgrim commits no sin.

1274 – On his authority he said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, “Whoever performs Hajj and neither engages in sexual talk nor commits any act of disobedience returns as free from sin as the day his mother bore him.” Agreed upon.

1275 – On his authority the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “One ʿumrah to the next wipes out whatever sins lie between them, and an accepted Hajj has no reward but Paradise.” Agreed upon.

1276 – ʿĀʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated: I said, “Messenger of Allah, we see fighting in Allah’s cause to be the finest of deeds; should we not then take part in it?” He replied, “The finest jihad is an accepted pilgrimage.” Reported by al-Bukhārī.

1276 – She also reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “There is no day on which Allah releases more servants from the Fire than the Day of ʿArafah.” Reported by Muslim.

1277 – Ibn ʿAbbās (may Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said, “A ʿumrah performed in Ramadan is equivalent to (or: takes the place of) a pilgrimage performed with me.” Agreed upon.

Explanation

These hadiths were cited by al-Nawawī (may Allah have mercy on him) in his book Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn, in the chapter on the obligation of Hajj and its virtues. They point to several matters:

Point one: an accepted Hajj occupies the third rank with respect to