obligatory and voluntary hajj and umrah on behalf of others

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بدل حج | badal hajj / hajj-e-badal

what does "badal hajj" / "hajj-e-badal" mean?

"badal hajj" is an arabic term, whilst "hajj-e-badal"is a term generally used by the muslims who originate from the indo-pak region; both of the terms respectively imply one and the same thing, that being, the performance of the obligatory hajj on behalf of those who have died whilst not having done so, or are islamically unable due to illness and/or disability, or alternatively, anyone wishing to offer a voluntary hajj on behalf of someone.

some legal rulings concerning badal hajj (taken from madeenah.com and fatwa-online.com):

Hajj, 'Umrah and Swine Flu

Question: May Allaah reward you, a questioner is asking about the ruling of leaving off an act of worship that one regularly practices fearing swine flu, such as a person who regularly used to perform 'Umrah during Ramadaan?

Response: There is no harm if you fear catching a contagious disease, the Prophet - صلى الله عليه و سلم - ordered people not to enter a land that has an epidemic, nor to exit from it [if one is in it]. So if a disease spreads in a certain country, one should not travel from that country so as not to spread that disease, nor should a person travel to the country that has that disease, acting upon taking the causes, and this is a form of protection.

So there is no harm in doing so, if it is established that there is a disease in the country during Hajj or 'Umrah – if it is established that there is a contagious disease there, then do not travel. Delay your Hajj or 'Umrah to a later time. So there is no problem in doing so, this is a way of protecting oneself, Yes.

Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan
Explanation of the Book of Eemaan: 18- 8-1430 H

Performed Hajj for deceased mother but not for deceased father

Question: I performed Hajj on behalf of my mother after her death, and did not perform Hajj for my father after his death. So is there any sin upon me for having left off performing Hajj for my father?

Response: There is no sin upon you for having left off performing Hajj for your father. This is because it is not obligatory upon you to perform Hajj on his behalf. However, from honouring and being good (to your father) is to perform Hajj on his behalf, as this is incorporated in the general statement of ihsaan (doing good) which Allaah has commanded in His saying:

{And be dutiful to your parents}, [Soorah al-Israa., Aayah 23].

And with Allaah lies all success and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and his family and his companions.

The Permanent Committee for islamic Research and Fataawa, comprising -
Head: Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez ibn 'Abdullaah ibn Baaz;
Deputy Head: Shaykh 'Abdur-Razzaaq 'Afeefee;
Member: Shaykh' Abdullaah ibn Ghudayyaan;
Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah ibn Qu'ood
Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-'Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa. - Volume 11, Page 54, Fatwa No.1753

I do not know whether deceased grandparents had performed the Hajj

Question: My grandparents (both) from my father and my mother have died and I do not know whether they had fulfilled the(ir) obligation of performing Hajj or not. So is it upon me to entrust someone to perform Hajj on their behalf?

Response: It is legislated for you to entrust someone to perform Hajj on behalf of every single one of them, so long as the one who is to perform Hajj on behalf of every single one of them has (already) previously performed Hajj for himself and that he is noble and trustworthy.

And with Allaah lies all success and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and his family and his companions.

Performing hajj on behalf of a paralytic son

Question: I have a paralytic son, and am thinking about him doing hajj, because if he was to do the hajj himself, then I fear that he will suffer harm. So is it permissible for me to do the hajj on his behalf?

Response: If the son is (indeed) paralytic as you say, then it is permissible for you to do the obligatory hajj on his behalf if you have already done the hajj for yourself.

Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen
Liqaa.aat al-Baab al-Maftooh – Volume 1, Page 45, Number 67

Performing 'Umrah on behalf of the deceased

Question: I made the intention to perform the 'Umrah for my eldest brother since he has passed away, so I want to know, is this act from the religious acts which (whose reward) will reach the deceased?

Response: Yes, because this is something good, (that being) you performing the 'Umrah on behalf of your deceased brother whether it be the obligatory ('Umrah) or the recommended (voluntary) ('Umrah) - so this is a great act; However, (the permissibility of this is) based upon the condition that you have already performed the obligatory 'Umrah for yourself first, and Allaah is the Most Knowledgeable.

Shaykh Saailh ibn Fowzaan
al-Muntaqaa min Fataawa Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaan - Volume 5, Page 160, Fatwa No.240

Performing the Hajj or the 'Umrah on behalf of my Parents who are alive

Question: Is it permissible for a Muslim to perform the Hajj or the 'Umrah on behalf of his parents whilst they are still alive?

Response: There is (some) explanation (required) in this issue:

As for the obligatory Hajj and the obligatory 'Umrah, then it is not permissible to appoint anyone on their behalf, unless there is something permanent preventing them from performing the Hajj or the 'Umrah, such as the one who is suffering from a prolonged illness as a result of which he is unable to travel for the Hajj to perform the rites of Hajj, or the one who is elderly (and) senile, based upon the hadeeth of the woman who said to the Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) that it has become incumbent upon her father to perform the obligatory Hajj , however he is unable to travel, "so should I perform the Hajj on his behalf?" The Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said to her:

((Perform the Hajj on behalf of your father)), [Transmitted by Abu Daawood and at-Tirmidhee]

As for the voluntary Hajj, then the issue is quite open, so there is no harm in him performing the Hajj on his (parents) behalf, even if (t)he(y) was (were) able (to do so themselves), (and) this is the opinion of a group of scholars.

Shaykh Saailh ibn Fowzaan
al-Muntaqaa min Fataawa Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaan - Volume 5, Page 160, Fatwa No.239

That which benefits the deceased by way of the living

Question: What are the things which benefit the deceased by way of the living? And is there a difference between physical and non-physical acts of worship? We hope you will clarify these issues for us, and outline a rule which we could refer to whenever we come across issues such as these; (Please) provide us with a fatwa, and may Allaah grant you blessings (in your affairs)?

Response: The deceased benefits from the action(s) of the living by way of that which (authentic) evidence indicates (permissibility) - from supplication (for the deceased), and the seeking of forgiveness for him (the deceased) and giving in charity on his (the deceased's) behalf and (performing) the Hajj and the 'Umrah on his behalf and paying off his debts and executing his Islaamic will; All of these have been legislated for. And some of the scholars have attached to this all acts of worship which a Muslim does deeming their reward for a(nother) Muslim who is alive or dead. However, that which is correct is to limit (oneself) to that which (authentic) evidence indicates (permissibility) as this will be in accordance with His (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) saying:

{And that man can have nothing but what he does (good or bad)}, [Soorah an-Najm, Aayah 39]

...and Allaah is the most knowledgeable (of all affairs).

Shaykh Saailh ibn Fowzaan
al-Muntaqaa min Fataawa Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaan - Volume 2, Page 161, Fatwa No.139

Actions which benefit the parents when they are alive and when they have died

Question: What are the actions which benefit the parents, both (when they are) alive and (when they are) dead?

Response: (From) the actions are honouring them during their life, and extending (all forms of) good towards them in speech and action and undertaking the responsibility for all their needs in terms of their financial needs and their dwelling and other than that, and being kind and gentle towards them, and (maintaining) good speech with them and being of service to them, as He (Ta'aala) says:

{And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents}, [Soorah al-Israa., Aayah 23]

As for after their death, then that which remains in (terms of) honouring them also is supplication and giving in charity on their behalf and performing the Hajj and the 'Umrah on their behalf and settling the debts they were responsible for, and maintaining the ties of the womb (kinship) which are related to them both and also honouring their friends and executing their (Islaamically) legislated will.

Shaykh Saailh ibn Fowzaan
al-Muntaqaa min Fataawa Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaan - Volume 2, Page 162-163, Fatwa No.141