“No camel of the pilgrim raises a leg or places a foot down except that Allah records for him thereby a good deed, or erases from him a sin, or raises him thereby a degree.”

Reported by al-Bayhaqī in Shuʿab al-Īmān (no. 3821) from the narration of Ibn ʿUmar — may Allah be pleased with them both.
Authenticated in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ (no. 5596) and Ṣaḥīḥ al-Targhīb wa-al-Tarhīb (no. 1106).

Brief Explanation of the Hadith

Ḥajj is one of the greatest acts of devotion by which a servant draws near to his Lord. Numerous ḥadīths have been narrated regarding its virtue and encouragement to perform it, among them the statement of the Prophet — may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him — that every step taken by the mount of the pilgrim on its way to the sacred sites is recorded for him as a good deed, or a sin is erased thereby, or a rank is raised for him. The particle "or" (أو) in this context signifies diversity (in blessings), not a choice between them. Therefore, there's no impediment to the pilgrim receiving all three rewards together: an increase in good deeds, the expiation of sins, and an elevation in rank. This depends on the difficulty encountered in performing the obedience and the sincerity of their devotion to Allah, (the Mighty and Majestic). This interpretation is supported by the verse: {And We sent him to a hundred thousand or more} Surah As-Sāffat: 147, meaning: and more.
Mention of camels is specific here due to their predominance in their time, yet the meaning applies to every means of transport used by the pilgrim in modern times, for the consideration is in covering the distance, not in the type of conveyance. The longer the journey, the greater the reward — just as is the case for one who walks to the mosque to perform the prayer.
The ḥadīth highlights the virtue of ḥajj and encourages its performance. It also illustrates the vastness of Allah’s mercy and the greatness of His generosity towards this Ummah.