Fatwas of Hajj on behalf of others

• Giving the reward of doing the Tawaaf to someone

Question: A woman asks: When I was in Mecca Al-Mukarramah, I received news that a relative of mine had died; So I performed the Tawaf for her - seven times around the Ka'bah - and made the intention for her ( to receive the reward). Is this permissible?

Answer: Yes, it is permissible for you to perform the Tawaf - seven times - and render the reward for whoever you wish from the Muslims.
However, it is befitting to know that which is best for a person is to render noble acts (of worship) for himself and (instead) to restrict himself to supplicating for whoever he wishes from the Muslims; That is because this is the guidance given to us by the Prophet ( Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in his statement:
( If someone dies his actions come to a standstill, except for three: Recurring charity (he has made), or knowledge which he has benefited (others) with, or a righteous son who prays for him), ( from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah as transmitted by Muslim, ref.4199).
 

Shaykh Ibn `Uthaymeen

ad-Durar an-Naadhirah fil-Fataawa al-Mu`aasirah - Page 453
Ibn `Uthaymeen - ad-Da`wah 1587, Dhul-Hijjah 1417AH

• Performing additional voluntary Hajj on behalf of my Mother

Question: My mother performed the Hajj seven times, so is it permissible for me myself to perform (another) hajj on her behalf?

Answer : Yes, it is permissible for you to perform (another) Hajj on her behalf - an eighth Hajj or more - and this is from kindness (and honouring) towards her, and there is great reward in that for you if you have (already) performed the (obligatory) Hajj for yourself.

Shaykh Ibn Baaz

Majmoo' Fataawa wa Rasaa.il 'Abdul-'Azeez ibn Baaz - Volume 16, Page 405

• Paying people to perform voluntary Hajj on behalf of myself and my parents

Question: My financial status is very comfortable, and all praise is due to Allah alone, therefore last year I paid three men to perform the (voluntary) Hajj on behalf of myself, my father and my mother; Keeping in mind that I have already performed (my obligatory) Hajj, I intend to continue to pay three men to perform the (voluntary) Hajj on behalf of myself, my father and my mother, so long as I am alive, so is there any religious prohibition in this?

Response: May Allah reward you with good. This (action of yours) is indicative of your keenness to do good. So long as you (yourself) have performed that which is obligatory upon you and you wish to do good for yourself and your parents then it would be better if you spent this money on those who were needy from amongst the poor.
 

Shaykh Saailh ibn Fowzaan
al-Muntaqaa min Fataawa Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaan - Volume 3, Page 184, Fatwa No.279

• Seeking financial gain by performing Hajj on behalf of someone else

Question: Is it permissible for a person to perform the obligation of the Hajj on behalf of someone else who is financially and physically able to perform the Hajj himself in exchange for money?

Answer: Whoever is able to perform the obligation of the Hajj himself, then it is not permissible for him to appoint someone else to perform the Hajj on his behalf, and he will not be rewarded for it (by Allah) if he does so.
As for the one who is unable to perform the Hajj himself due to a condition which permanently prevents him from doing so, then it is permissible for him to appoint someone else to perform the Hajj on his behalf.
And there is no harm in him taking money (for performing the Hajj) if he intends by it to use it for the Hajj, and not intending (to seek) any financial enjoyment (benefit) (by undertaking the performance of the Hajj). And we have a rule which some of the scholars use which has been extracted from the authentic evidences, that being:
Whoever makes the intention to perform the Hajj to seek financial gain, then he should not perform the Hajj. And whoever takes money in order to perform the Hajj, then he should (go ahead and) perform the Hajj. [Majmoo' al-Fataawa of Ibn Taymiyyah - volume 26, page 19]
...and the meaning of this is, whoever uses money as a means to perform the Hajj, then there is no harm in that, and (but) whoever uses the (performance of the) Hajj as a means to earn money then that is not permissible.

Shaykh Saailh ibn Fowzaan
Al-Muntaqaa min Fataawa Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaan - Volume 3, Page 190, Fatwa No.291

• 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 perform the Hajj on his behalf?

Answer : If the son is (indeed) paralytic as you say, then it is permissible for you to perform the obligatory Hajj on his behalf if you have already performed the Hajj for yourself.

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

• Performing Hajj on behalf of mother who never prayed

Question: Is it permissible for a daughter to perform Hajj and give in charity on behalf of her deceased mother, knowing that the mother did not pray during her life. What is the ruling in this, knowing that this daughter upholds that which is Islamically required of her from the pillars of Islam?

Answer : Whoever intentionally leaves off praying because he does not think it is obligatory, then he has committed kufr according to the concensus of the Scholars. And whoever leaves off praying due to laziness and neglect, then he has (also) committed kufr according to the majority of the two opinions of the Scholars, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him):
(The covenant that is between us and them (the disbelievers) is the prayer. Whoever abandons it has committed kufr in addition to other evidences from the noble Quran and the Sunnah in this matter.
So based upon this, it is not permissible to perform Hajj nor to give in charity on behalf of anyone who has died and did not used to pray, just as one cannot perform Hajj nor give in charity on behalf of any of the kuffaar.

The Permanent Committee for Islaamic 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 113, Question 2 of Fatwa No.6178

• Whilst performing Hajj for his mother, forgot to pronounce the intention for her

Question: What is the ruling concerning the one who performed Hajj on behalf of his mother and at the Meeqat he pronounced the talbiyyah for the Hajj and did not do so for his mother?

Answer : As long as his intention was for the Hajj on behalf of his mother, even if he forgot, the Hajj is (acceptable) for his mother since the intention is a stronger (argument), for that which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah) said: (Actions are but by intention). So if the intention in his coming was for Hajj on behalf of his mother or father and he then forgot when he entered the state of ihraam, the Hajj is (acceptable) for whoever he had intended it for, either his mother, father or other than them.

Shaykh Ibn Baaz
Majmoo' Fataawa Samahatu ash-Shaykh Ibn Baaz - Volume 6, Page 116, Fatwa No.74

• Wishes to change the intention for the Hajj whilst in 'Arafah

Question: A man made the intention to perform the Hajj for himself, whilst he has previously made the Hajj. Then he decided to change his intention for his relative whilst in 'Arafah. So what is the ruling regarding this and is it permissible?

Answer : A person, if he enters the state of ihraam for Hajj for himself, cannot change the intention after that, neither en route nor in 'Arafah nor any other place. Rather, it is imperative he completes the Hajj for himself and does not change it for his father nor his mother and nor anyone else. Rather, the Hajj is specific for him (now) for the saying of Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala):
{and complete Hajj and 'Umrah for (the Sake of) Allaah}.
So, if he enters the state of ihraam for himself, it is obligatory he complete it for himself. If he enters the state of ihraam for other than himself, then it is obligatory that he completes for other than himself and does not change ( the intention) once he enters the state of ihraam.
And with Allah 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 Islaamic Research and Fataawa
Fataawa al-Hajj wal-'Umrah waz-Ziyaarah - Page 27