"If one sets out as a pilgrim or visitor and then dies, he is granted the reward of a pilgrim or visitant till the Day of Resurrection. Anyone who dies in either of the sanctuaries (Makka or Madina) is not subject to accountability or reckoning, but is told to enter paradise." (Baihaqi)
"If anyone performs the Pilgrimage for Allah’s sake without talking immodestly or acting wickedly, he will return (free from sin) as on the day his mother bore him. (Abu Dawood)
"One hundred and twenty mercies descend on this House (Kaaba) each day: sixty for the circumambulants, forty for those performing prayers and twenty for those who just look at it. (Baihaqi)
Ibn Mas'ud reported Allah's Messenger (peace be on him) as saying:
"Make the Hajj and the Umrah follow one another closely. for they remove poverty and sins as a blacksmith's- bellows remove impurities from gold and silver; and a Hajj which is accepted gets no less a reward than paradise." (Tirmidhi and Nisai)
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (PBUH) was asked, "Which is the best deed?" He said:
"Belief in Allah and His Apostles."
He was then asked "Which is the next (in goodness)?" He said:
"Hajj- Mabrur " (Bukhari)
Aisha said that she asked the Prophet's (PBUH) permission to take part in Jihad, and he replied, "The jihad of you women is the Pilgrimage". (Bukhari)
Narrated Ibn Abbas: A woman from the tribe of Juhania came to the Prophet (PBUH) and said:
"My mother had vowed to perform Hajj but she died before performing it. May I perform Hajj on my mother s behalf!" The Prophet (PBUH) replied, "Perform Hajj on her behalf. Had there been a debt on your mother, would you have paid it or not? So, pay Allah’s- debt as He has more right to be paid. "(Muslim)
"He who dies without having performed the pilgrimage (though he possess the means), let him die a Jew or a Christian, as he wishes." (Tirmidhi)
"...And take a provision (with you) for the journey; but the best of provisions is right conduct,. So fear Me, O you that are wise" (Q2:197)
In these parts, the journey for hajj begins with you, obtaining the forms to process the pilgrimage. Once you become an approved pilgrim, gathering provisions for the journey begins: clothes to buy, hajj lectures to attend, native food are prepared and dried to be enjoyed in Makkah etc. Yet, is the Hujjaj (the pilgrim) gathering the right provisions for this journey?
In the period of ignorance, pilgrims were led into strange excessive ways. Some people used to set out for hajj without any provisions for the journey and live by begging for food. This is considered as an act of piety and tawakkul (trust in Allah ). Others simply stopped speaking while on hajj, which they called al-Hajju ' I-musmit, (the dumb pilgrimage). Allah declares; that it is no virtue going to pilgrimage without provisions. Even if a pilgrim does not take any provision with him, but at the same time commits evil deeds without any fear of Allah, he only makes a profitless show of piety. Real virtue lies in the fear of Allah in all the steps of the journey, obey Him and keep one's life pure.
The moment a pilgrim forms his intention, he should begin to gather this provision of taqwa. His thoughts must naturally become purer and his deeds must become more virtuous because the servant is seeking after his beloved Lord. He is required to repent of his past sins and seek forgiveness of people he might have wronged. He also renders his dues to owners in order not to appear at the court of the Almighty with creepers of injustices hanging on him. Generally, the inclination for doing good must intensify and abhorrence of evil increased.
At each point the pilgrim is conscious of the presence of Allah around him so he becomes more careful; he avoids abuse, indecency dishonesty, squabbles and bickerings:
"For Hajj are the months well known. If anyone undertakes that duty therein let there be no obscenity nor wickedness nor wrangling in the Hajj... " (Q2:197).
Through these prudence and scruples of character, the entire journey becomes an act of worship and purification of self such that when he returns, he is purged of his sins. "If anyone performs the Pilgrimage for Allah’s sake without talking immodestly or acting wickedly he will return (free from sin) as on the day his mother bore him ", (Abu Dawood)