*Deeds That Earn Rewards Equal to Hajj and Umrah* *Written by:* Shaykh Maqbool Ahmad Salafi (Hafizahullah) Jeddah Dawah Center, Hayy as-Salamah (Saudi Arabia) *English Interpreter:* Hasan Fuzail There are many servants of Allah who are granted the ability to travel to the House of Allah—such people are indeed very fortunate. However, there are also those servants who constantly yearn day and night to visit the Haramain, they cry, they make du‘a to their Lord, they save up a little money, and they try to adopt other means as well—but no one’s will prevails in front of the will of Allah. Only the one who is called by the House of Allah can witness its sight. Even with wealth, a person is helpless before the will of the Lord. Many people, due to poverty and financial constraints, are deprived of performing Hajj to the House of Allah and visiting Masjid al-Nabawi. Often, the poor and destitute fall into a sense of inferiority, thinking that, “If Allah had given us wealth today, we too would perform Hajj like so-and-so, people would call us Hajis too, and we would also be recognized.” To such people, I offer this advice: Hajj is not a means for fame or recognition. If a wealthy person performs Hajj for the sake of fame, it would have been better had he been poor and never had the opportunity to perform Hajj—because fame and recognition in worship is a cause of destruction of deeds and also a path to Hellfire. Yes—those who perform Hajj Mabrur solely for the pleasure of Allah are the beloved servants of Allah. Similarly, those poor and destitute who wish to perform Hajj for Allah’s pleasure but are unable to do so due to poverty and financial hardship should also not despair of Allah’s mercy. Allah has prohibited despair among His servants. The Most Just of Judges has not done injustice to anyone, even in the matter of Hajj—He has been fair with everyone. If Allah has made someone wealthy, then on the Day of Judgment that person will be asked: “How did you earn your wealth and where did you spend it?”—and that will be a very difficult question. On the other hand, for the one who was not given much wealth, the Hereafter will be full of ease—because the test of wealth is a very hard one. In both wealth and poverty, Allah’s wisdom is hidden. Let us now see how Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, has dealt justly with everyone in the matter of Hajj and Umrah. Through His beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, He has informed us of some deeds which are easy to do, but in reward and weight on the scale they are equivalent to Hajj and Umrah. Below are some of those deeds mentioned in the sayings of the Prophet ﷺ, through which both rich and poor alike can earn rewards equivalent to Hajj and Umrah: *1. Remaining in the mosque after Fajr until sunrise, then praying two units of prayer* Anas bin Malik (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Whoever prays the morning prayer in congregation, then sits remembering Allah until the sun rises, then prays two rak‘ahs, will have the reward of a complete Hajj and Umrah—complete, complete, complete." (Sahih al-Tirmidhi: 586) Another version with slight variation: "Whoever prays the morning prayer in congregation, then remains seated until he prays the Duha prayer, it will be for him the reward of a Hajj and Umrah—complete, complete, complete." (Sahih al-Targhib: 469) *2. Walking to the mosque to pray obligatory or voluntary prayers* Abu Umamah (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Whoever walks to an obligatory prayer in congregation, it is as if he has performed Hajj. And whoever walks to a voluntary prayer—Abu Dawud narrates it as the Duha prayer—it is as if he has performed a complete Umrah." (Sahih al-Jami‘: 6556) *3. Participating in gatherings of knowledge in the mosques* The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever goes to the mosque seeking knowledge or to teach it, he will have the reward of a Hajj whose Hajj is complete." (Sahih al-Targhib: 86) *4. Engaging in remembrance after prayer* Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) narrated: "The poor came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: 'The wealthy have taken all the high ranks and lasting bliss. They pray as we pray, they fast as we fast, but they have surplus wealth with which they perform Hajj and Umrah, engage in Jihad, and give in charity.' The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Shall I not tell you something by which you can overtake those who have surpassed you and no one after you will be able to catch up with you—except the one who does as you do? Say SubhanAllah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times, and Allahu Akbar 33 times after every prayer.'" (Sahih al-Bukhari: 843) If you'd like, I can also format this text into a PDF or design it for a booklet or post. Here is the accurate, same-to-same English translation of your provided Urdu content, with all tense, structure, and wording preserved faithfully: *(5) Performing Umrah in Ramadan:* Performing Umrah in Ramadan is equal to Hajj, i.e., one receives the reward like that of Hajj. The Prophet ﷺ said to an Ansari woman: "فإذا جاء رمضانُ فاعتمِري. فإنَّ عُمرةً فيه تعدِلُ حجَّةً" (Sahih Muslim: 1256) Translation: When Ramadan comes, perform Umrah, for indeed Umrah in it is equal to Hajj. In another authentic narration, it is mentioned that performing Umrah in Ramadan is equal to performing Hajj with the Prophet ﷺ. In Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, Abu Dawood, and others, it is narrated that a woman asked her husband to request from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to take her for Hajj. In that hadith, it is further mentioned: "وإنَّها أمرَتْني أن أسألَك ما يعدِلُ حجَّةً معَكَ، فقالَ رسولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: أقرِئها السَّلامَ ورحمةَ اللَّهِ وبرَكاتِه، وأخبِرْها أنَّها تعدِلُ حجَّةً معي، يعني عُمرةً في رَمضانَ" (Sahih Abu Dawood: 1990) Translation: That man said to the Prophet ﷺ, “This woman (my wife) asked me to find out from you what deed could be equal to performing Hajj with you?” So, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Convey to her my greetings of peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah, and inform her that performing Umrah in Ramadan is equal to Hajj with me.” *(6) Being Kind and Dutiful to Parents:* Narrated by Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him): "أن رجلاً جاء إلى رسول الله ﷺ وقال: إني أشتهي الجهاد ولا أقدر عليه، قال: هل بقي من والديك أحد؟ قال: أمي، قال: قابل الله في برها، فإن فعلت فأنت حاج ومعتمر ومجاهد." Translation: A man came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: “I desire to participate in Jihad but I do not have the strength.” So the Prophet ﷺ asked: “Are any of your parents alive?” He said: “My mother.” The Prophet ﷺ said: “Then meet Allah by being dutiful to her. If you do so, you will be considered a Haji (one who performed Hajj), a Mu’tamir (one who performed Umrah), and a Mujahid (warrior in Allah’s cause).” Note: Al-Busiri said that Abu Ya'la and Tabarani narrated this with a strong chain of narration. Iraqi in Takhrij al-Ihya graded it as Hasan (good), and al-Mundhiri in al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib said it is Jayyid (sound). *(7) Praying in Masjid Quba:* Whoever visits the Prophet’s Mosque ﷺ, it is Sunnah for him to also visit Masjid Quba and offer two rak‘ahs there. Because the Prophet ﷺ used to visit Quba every week and offer two rak‘ahs of prayer there. He ﷺ said: "من تطهَّرَ في بيتِهِ، ثمَّ أتى مسجدَ قباءٍ، فصلَّى فيهِ صلاةً، كانَ لَهُ كأجرِ عمرةٍ." (Sahih Ibn Majah: 1168) Translation: Whoever performs ablution at home, then comes to Masjid Quba and prays in it, will receive the reward equal to that of Umrah. In shorter words, this narration is also reported as: "الصَّلاةُ في مسجدِ قُباءَ كعُمرةٍ" (Sahih al-Tirmidhi: 324) Translation: Praying in Masjid Quba is equal to Umrah. Note: It should be remembered that there is no instruction to travel from other countries just to visit Masjid Quba. This applies to those who reside in Madinah Tayyibah or those visiting Masjid Nabawi from inside or outside Saudi Arabia. *(8) Preparing Travel Gear for a Haji or Taking Care of Their Family:* The Prophet ﷺ said: "من جهَّز غازيًا، أو جهز حاجًّا، أو خلَفه في أهلِه، أو فطَّر صائمًا؛ كان له مثلُ أجورِهم، من غير أن ينقصَ من أجورِهم شيءٌ." (Sahih al-Targhib: 1078) Translation: Whoever prepares a warrior’s travel provisions, or prepares a Haji’s travel gear, or looks after their family in their absence, or provides iftar for a fasting person – will get a reward equal to theirs, without any decrease in their reward. *Weak and Fabricated Narrations Related to Reward Equal to Hajj and Umrah:* *Dear readers!* Please know that all the narrations I have mentioned above are authentic. They can be acted upon, and one can hope from Allah for the reward equal to Hajj and Umrah. Also know that there are many other narrations concerning reward equal to Hajj and Umrah which are either *weak* (da‘eef) or *fabricated* (mawdu‘), which I am not listing here for the sake of brevity. However, I will briefly mention some: • Performing obligatory prayer in the Masjid of Jumu’ah is equal to Hajj Mabrur, and optional prayer is like accepted Hajj. • Performing prayer in Masjid Nabawi is equal to Hajj. • Visiting mother’s grave is equal to Umrah. • I‘tikaf for ten days in Ramadan is equal to two Hajj and two Umrah. • Cleaning the mosque earns reward of four hundred Hajj. • Saying Tasbih a hundred times morning and evening gives reward of a hundred Hajj. • Helping your brother gives the reward of Hajj and Umrah. • Praying Fajr in congregation is like performing Hajj fifty times with Prophet Adam (peace be upon him). • When the Day of Arafah coincides with Jumu’ah, it is superior to seventy Hajj. • For pedestrians, the reward is seventy Hajj; for riders, thirty Hajj. • A moment spent in the path of Allah is better than fifty or seventy Hajj. • Visiting the graves of Ahl al-Bayt equals seventy Hajj. • Looking at parents’ faces with mercy is equal to an accepted and complete Hajj. • Reciting Surah Hajj earns reward equal to the number of Hujjaj. • Praying four rak‘ahs after Maghrib equals Hajj. • Whoever dies on the way to Hajj gets reward of Hajj every year. • Reciting Surah Yaseen earns the reward of twenty Hajj. • Congregational Maghrib prayer earns reward of Hajj Mabrur and accepted Umrah. There are many other such narrations, some of which are weak, and some are fabricated. *O Allah!* Accept the acts of worship of those whom You have granted the blessing of Hajj and Umrah, and grant those who could not perform them the reward equal to Hajj and Umrah. Ameen.