Performing Umrah on behalf of others known as Umrah Badal is a virtuous act of worship rooted in the Sunnah. It allows the living to fulfill spiritual debts for the deceased or those permanently unable to travel due to illness or old age.
Many Muslims ask, “Can I perform Umrah for someone else?” The answer is yes; the practice is widely recognized as permissible and rewarding. To ensure the Umrah is valid, it is essential that the recipient is truly unable to perform it themselves and that the proxy chosen is a trustworthy Muslim with the correct knowledge of the rituals.
By acting as a substitute, the proxy helps complete a duty to Allah, bringing spiritual benefit to both the performer and the intended recipient.
The Hadith Behind Hajj and Umrah al-Badal
The permission to perform pilgrimage on behalf of others is rooted in the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). A primary piece of evidence is the narration in Sahih Bukhari, where a woman from the tribe of Juhaynah came to the Prophet (PBUH) and said, “My mother vowed to go on Hajj, but she died before she could do so. Can I perform Hajj on her behalf?” The Prophet (PBUH) replied:
“Yes, perform Hajj on her behalf. Do you not think that if your mother had a debt, you would pay it off? Pay the debt that is owed to Allah, for Allah is more deserving of being paid.”
This Hadith serves as a direct approval for Hajj-e-Badal. Scholars explain that while the text mentions Hajj specifically, the same ruling applies to Umrah by analogy (Qiyas). Since both are forms of pilgrimage and acts of worship that can be performed at a specific location, the principle of fulfilling a “spiritual debt” for the deceased or the physically unable remains the same.
There is also the hadith of Abu Razin Al-Uqaili, which clarifies that people who are alive but incapable of doing the hajj/umrah physically can also do proxy hajj/umrah.
Abu Razin Al-Uqaili narrated:
That he went to the Prophet and said: “O Messenger of Allah! My father is an elderly man who is not able to perform Hajj nor Umrah nor undertake a journey.’ He said: ‘Perform Hajj on behalf of your father and perform Umrah.'”
Scholarly Perspectives: Rulings Across the Four Schools of Thought
There is very little difference of opinions on this topic. All of the schools of fiqh agree that umrah badal is permissible. And we have already mentioned the logic in this article.
You will only find the difference in weather you need to do umrah yourself first,
Hanafi Opinion
In the Hanafi view, since Umrah is an emphasized Sunnah and not a fard obligation, there is no requirement or expectation to send a proxy to perform it on your behalf.
However, it remains perfectly permissible for you to perform the Umrah yourself and donate the reward to a family member, and you do not need to inform them beforehand.
According to the Hanafi scholars, you can perform umrah behalf of someone else before doing it yourself. But it is Makruh Tahrimi. This means it is highly disliked and discouraged.
Key points to remember:
- Umrah is a sunnah, not wajib.
- You can perform umrah for someone else
- But it is not a requirement
- You can perform umrah badal before doing it yourself
- But it is highly disliked
Shafi’i Opinion
According to Shafi’i scholars, it is permissible and even obligatory for someone unable to perform their mandatory Umrah due to old age, incurable disability, or chronic illness to appoint a proxy. This delegation is also valid for those who have passed away. In these cases, a relative or close acquaintance can perform the Umrah on their behalf, provided they have the individual’s instruction or consent.
And yes, you heard that right. In Shafi’i Madhhab it is mandatory to perform umrah once in a lifetime just like hajj.
However, you must have completed your own Umrah first. If you haven’t, the Umrah you try to do for someone else will automatically count as your own, and the other person will not receive the “proxy” credit.
- Umrah is wajib
- You can perform umrah for someone else
- And it is encouraged
- But you must complete your own umrah first
Hanbali Opinion
The Hanbali school considers Umrah to be a mandatory obligation once in a lifetime for those who are able. Like the Shafi’i method, Hanbali scholars also take umrah as a wajib. Which means that muslims must perform umrah once in their lifetime like hajj if they have the means to do it.
Because of this, they allow Umrah al-Badal specifically for the deceased or those with permanent physical disabilities that prevent travel. A central requirement in this school is that the person performing the proxy must have already completed their own obligatory Umrah first. If they attempt to perform it for someone else before fulfilling their own duty, the Hanbali view is that the act will count as their own personal pilgrimage instead of the other person’s.
Additionally, for a living person who is ill or elderly, their explicit permission must be obtained before someone else can perform the Umrah on their behalf. This position aligns closely with the Shafi’i school, as both prioritize the necessity of the performer having cleared their own obligation before acting as a substitute.
- Umrah is wajib
- You can perform umrah for someone else
- And it is encouraged
- But you have to do it for yourself first
Maliki Opinion
The Maliki school generally discourages the practice of performing Umrah or Hajj on behalf of others, as their core philosophy emphasizes that individuals should perform their own acts of worship.
Because of this, they view the idea of a proxy as disliked or Makruh. However, despite this discouragement, the Malikis do consider the act valid and permissible if it is actually carried out. Rather than a formal proxy system, they often focus on the concept of performing the pilgrimage and then gifting the reward to the soul of the intended recipient.
This makes them the most restrictive of the four schools, yet they still acknowledge that the spiritual benefit reaches the person for whom the intention was made.
- Umrah is sunnah
- You can perform umrah for someone else
- But it is discouraged
- You have to do it for yourself first
Who Can Perform Umrah Badal?
To ensure the validity and acceptance of Umrah Badal, specific conditions apply to the person acting as the proxy:
- Muslim: The proxy must be a Muslim.
- Completed Their Own Obligatory Umrah: A person cannot perform Umrah on behalf of another until they have fulfilled their own obligation first. (Hanafi scholars consider this highly recommended but not a strict condition for validity).
- Sane and Physically Capable: The proxy must be in sound mental health and physically able to complete all the rites correctly.
- Trustworthy and Sincere: The representative should be a pious and knowledgeable individual who understands the rituals and will perform them with the correct intention.
- Appointed by the Recipient: If the person is alive but permanently incapacitated, they must give explicit permission. If they are deceased, their heirs can appoint a proxy.
- Financial Flexibility: It is not required for the recipient to pay for the journey. The proxy can use their own money as a gift, or use funds provided by a third party or charity, as there is no evidence that you must pay for it from your own wealth.
- Status of the Recipient: For a living person, they must have a permanent inability to travel due to age or chronic illness. If they are deceased, Umrah can be performed for them without any difference of opinion.
Rulings on Delegating Umrah (Al-Inabah)
The delegation of Umrah, known as Al-Inabah, is a sacred trust. According to the Shafi’i school and general scholarly consensus, specific conditions determine who can delegate this act of worship.
Eligibility: Who Can Appoint a Proxy?
- The Deceased: It is absolutely permissible to delegate Umrah for those who have passed away. This helps fulfill any spiritual debts they may have left behind.
- The Permanently Incapable (Ma’zoob): A living person may only appoint a proxy if they suffer from a permanent condition with no hope of recovery, such as chronic illness, severe disability, or advanced old age.
The Condition of Consent
If the intended recipient is alive but incapacitated, you must obtain their explicit permission. Because Umrah is an act of intention, a living person must personally authorize the proxy to act on their behalf. For the deceased, no such permission is required.
So, before asking “can i do umrah for someone else” ask the person if he has the consent and intent.
Ethics of the Proxy: Knowledge and Trust
When choosing a deputy, Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymin highlighted two essential qualities:
- Knowledge: The person must understand the specific Fiqh rulings of Umrah to ensure the rituals are valid.
- Trustworthiness: They must possess the sincerity to complete the acts properly and not treat the worship as a mere business transaction.
A Warning Against Commercialization
It is strictly forbidden for a proxy to turn this into a “business” by accepting multiple payments for one trip or outsourcing the work to cheaper, unknown substitutes. This is considered an unlawful consumption of wealth.
Performing Umrah for Multiple People
An Umrah can only be performed for one person at a time. It is not permissible to intend a single Umrah for multiple recipients simultaneously. If you wish to perform Umrah for more than one person, you must complete the rituals separately for each individual, entering a new state of Ihram for every specific intention.
Can Women Perform Umrah Badal?
Yes, women are fully permitted to perform Umrah Badal. As long as they meet the standard conditions such as being a sane Muslim and having already completed their own obligatory Umrah. The same rewards and spiritual requirements apply regardless of gender.