Question: Does hajj wipe out all past sins even major ones?

Answer:

 The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever performs hajj while refraining from lewdness, indecencies, and wranglings, they shall return home like a newborn: like their mothers gave birth.” And he also said, “A virtuous hajj merits no other reward than Paradise.

It is easy to conclude from the above sound traditions the tremendous benefits of hajj and its redemptive nature.

However, the question arises: does it apply to all sins?

Scholars agree that hajj wipes out the minor sins. The major sins fall into two categories: 1. Those related to the rights of Allah; 2. Those involving the rights of the servants of Allah.

As for the former, most scholars believe that the hajj wipes out the major sins as long as a person has made sincere repentance before the hajj. If he did not do so, it would not wipe them out.

As for the sins involving the rights of God’s servants, the hajj has no redemptive effect on them unless his victims have forgiven him. If they have forgiven him or compensated them, he can hope for his sins to be forgiven.

Almighty Allah knows best.