Ibn Mas'ud reported God’s messenger as saying, “Make the hajj and the ‘umra follow one another closely, for they remove poverty and sins as a blacksmith’s bellows remove impurities from iron, gold and silver; and a hajja which is accepted gets no less a reward than paradise."
Tirmidhi and Nasa'i transmitted it, and Ahmad and Ibn Majah transmitted it from ‘Umar up to “from iron."
Ibn ‘Umar said that a man came to the Prophet and asked what makes it necessary for one to perform the pilgrimage. He replied, “Provisions and a riding-beast. ’ ’
Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “Islam does not allow for failure to perform the pilgrimage."
Abu Dawud transmitted it.
(The word used here is sarura. The meaning is strictly "one who does not perform the pilgrimage." It is explained as coming from sarr which indicates the act of confining, or withholding. Another meaning is abstinence from marriage, and the tradition is sometimes explained as meaning that Islam does not allow of celibacy; but while that is a possible interpretation it is not the appropriate one in this chapter).
