"Hajj Al-Mabrur brings no reward other than paradise," the report is the same except that he said, "expiates for what came in between."
Hadith Commentary: Hajj al-Mabrūr
This narration from Sunan an-Nasa'i (2623) concerning "The Book of Hajj" speaks of the immense virtue of an accepted pilgrimage. The term "Hajj al-Mabrūr" signifies a pilgrimage performed with sincere devotion, free from sin, ostentation, and in complete accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
The Nature of the Reward
The declaration that its reward is "nothing less than Paradise" underscores its supreme status. It is not weighed against minor good deeds but is accepted as a comprehensive act of worship that fulfills a major pillar of Islam, warranting the ultimate divine recompense.
Expiation of Sins
The phrase "expiates for what came in between" refers to the minor sins committed between the performance of one Hajj and the next, or the sins of a lifetime preceding it. Scholars clarify that this expiation is conditional upon avoiding major sins (kabā'ir). A Hajj that protects its performer from returning to disobedience is a sign of its acceptance.
Scholarly Insights
Imam an-Nawawi comments that a "Mabrūr" Hajj is one in which a person's provision is lawfully earned, their conduct is gentle, and they abstain from obscenity and arguments. Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali adds that its essence is the sincerity of intention for Allah alone and the following of the Prophet's example in all rites, culminating in a transformed, righteous life thereafter.