Staus and reward of hajj in Islam

Hajj is the fifth of Islam after declaration of shahada (faith), salah (five daily prayers), Zakat (obligatory alms), sawm (obligatory fasting during month of Ramadan). It is an obligation on all Muslims (male and female), attested by the Qur’an and the Hadith that if he or she possess enough wealth and has good health, to undertake the journey to Makkah to perform Hajj.

Allah says in the Qur’an:

(إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيۡتٍ۬ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِى بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكً۬ا وَهُدً۬ى لِّلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ (٩٦) فِيهِ ءَايَـٰتُۢ بَيِّنَـٰتٌ۬ مَّقَامُ إِبۡرَٲهِيمَ‌ۖ وَمَن دَخَلَهُ ۥ كَانَ ءَامِنً۬ا‌ۗ وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ حِجُّ ٱلۡبَيۡتِ مَنِ ٱسۡتَطَاعَ إِلَيۡهِ سَبِيلاً۬‌ۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِىٌّ عَنِ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ (٩٧)(سُوۡرَةُ آل عِمرَان

“Verily, the first House (of worship) appointed for mankind was that at Bakkah (Makkah), full of blessing, and a guidance for Al-‘Alamîn (the mankind and jinn). In it are manifest signs (for example), the Maqâm (place) of Ibrâhim (Abraham); whosoever enters it, he attains security. And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka’bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allâh, those who can afford the expenses (for one’s conveyance, provision and residence); and whoever disbelieves [i.e. denies Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah), then he is a disbeliever of Allâh], then Allâh stands not in need of any of the ‘Alamîn (mankind and jinn and all that exists).” The Holy Qura’an [Al-Imran: 96-97]

The reward for hajj is paradise. Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Whoever performs Hajj for Allah’s pleasure and does not have sexual relations with his wife, and does not do evil or sins then he will return (after Hajj free from all sins) as if he were born a new.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1521)

The literal meaning of word hajj is “to set out for a place.” Although in English the word ‘pilgrimage’ is often referred to convey the meaning of hajj, in Islamic Shariah the word hajj is only applied to pilgrimage to Makkah. No other pilgrimage to any other place is called hajj. In fact in Islam, there is no other pilgrimage except hajj.