The Accepted Hajj: Does It Expiate Both Minor and Major Sins?

Question:
May Allah reward you. The listener M. N. H. from Yemen says: It is mentioned in the hadith Is the Hajj considered, in light of this hadith, to be an expiation for all the sins and transgressions that a person commits before the Hajj? Please give us a ruling, may Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
This is according to the first opinion, which is that it only expiates minor sins, while major sins are not expiated except through repentance. Allah the Exalted said: So the condition for the expiation of evil deeds is the avoidance of major sins. And because of his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): . So this expiation only covers minor sins, as for major sins, repentance is necessary, and neither the Hajj nor anything else expiates them. This is the opinion of the majority. Some scholars hold that the Hajj expiates both major and minor sins due to the generality of the hadith: "He returns from his sins as on the day his mother bore him," or "He returns as on the day his mother bore him." This is absolute, so it covers major and minor sins, and the grace of Allah is vast. However, in any case, it is not permissible to be lax in sins and rely on the fact that the Hajj expiates them, or Ramadan, or the five daily prayers. It is not permissible to persist in sins and rely on hope alone; rather, one should repent to Allah the Mighty and Majestic and improve one's deeds. Yes.