Short answer
Hajj mabroor means an accepted Hajj: one done correctly, sincerely for Allah, with halal money and without sin, and followed by a better life. The Prophet ﷺ said its only reward is Paradise. Saying "Hajj mabroor" to a pilgrim is a prayer that Allah accepts their Hajj.
Mabroor is not a separate legal category. A Hajj that fulfils its fard and wajib acts is valid; being mabroor concerns its acceptance, which depends on sincerity, lawful wealth and avoiding sin during it. The four schools agree on this.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
Mabroor comes from birr, which means righteousness and goodness. Scholars give several overlapping explanations of a Hajj mabroor:
- Done correctly: its pillars and wajibs fulfilled as the Prophet ﷺ taught.
- Sincere: for Allah, not for the title "Hajji" or for show.
- Free of sin: no rafath (sexual talk or acts), fusuq (disobedience) or jidal (quarrelling) during it, as the Quran says.
- Paid for with halal money: scholars stress this, since money from interest or theft spoils the spirit of the journey even if the rites are valid.
- Followed by change: many scholars say the clearest sign of an accepted Hajj is that the pilgrim comes home better than he left, keeping the prayers and leaving old sins.
The four schools agree that acceptance is known only to Allah. You do your best and hope. The reward named in the hadith is Paradise, and another hadith ranks a Hajj mabroor among the best deeds after faith and striving in Allah's path.
As a greeting: people say "Hajj mabroor" or "Hajjan mabroora" (may it be an accepted Hajj) to pilgrims. It is a good dua and fine to use; see what to say to a returning pilgrim. For the sins Hajj removes, see does Hajj erase all sins.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:197
ٱلْحَجُّ أَشْهُرٌۭ مَّعْلُومَٰتٌۭ ۚ فَمَن فَرَضَ فِيهِنَّ ٱلْحَجَّ فَلَا رَفَثَ وَلَا فُسُوقَ وَلَا جِدَالَ فِى ٱلْحَجِّ ۗ وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا۟ مِنْ خَيْرٍۢ يَعْلَمْهُ ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَتَزَوَّدُوا۟ فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ ٱلزَّادِ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ۚ وَٱتَّقُونِ يَٰٓأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ ﴿١٩٧﴾
Hajj is [during] well-known months, so whoever has made Hajj obligatory upon himself therein [by entering the state of ihram], there is [to be for him] no sexual relations and no disobedience and no disputing during Hajj. And whatever good you do - Allah knows it. And take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is fear of Allah. And fear Me, O you of understanding.
A pure Hajj is kept free of these three.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1773
Sahih... والحج المبرور ليس له جزاء إلا الجنة ...
"An accepted Hajj has no reward except Paradise."
The reward of Hajj mabroor.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1519
Sahih... قيل ثم ماذا قال حج مبرور ...
"He was asked which deed is best and said faith in Allah and His Messenger, then striving in Allah's path, then an accepted Hajj."
Hajj mabroor is among the best deeds.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Hajj, opening discussion. Discusses Hajj with unlawful money: the obligation is discharged but acceptance is at risk.
- al-Majmu' (Nawawi), Kitab al-Hajj, on the virtue of Hajj. Explains mabroor as a Hajj free of sin.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.