Can One Umra Be Performed on Behalf of Two Deceased?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch
Question
I would like to donate money for an individual to perform one umra badal on behalf of two individuals who have passed away. Can the intention for a single umra/hajj badal be made on behalf of two (or more) people according to Hanafi fiqh?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
An individual Umra should be performed on behalf of each deceased person. Both Umras can be performed by the same person. They would merely renew their Ihram after finishing the first Umra and perform a second. [Maydani, al-Lubab fi Sharh al-Kitab]
Proxy-Pilgrimage
It is permissible to perform the lesser and greater pilgrimage on behalf of a deceased person. This ruling is based on the Prophet’s (Allah bless him and give him peace) direct permission.
The noble companion, Burayda (Allah be pleased with him), narrates saying, “I was sitting with the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), and a woman came and said, ‘Of Messenger of Allah, I gave my mother a slavegirl in charity, then she (the mother) died.’ He said, ‘You have attained your reward, and (the law of) inheritance has returned her (the slavegirl) to you.’ She said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, my mother owed a fast of Ramadan, should I perform it for her?’ He said, ‘Perform it for her (i.e., via expiation).’ She said, ‘She never performed the Hajj. Should I perform it for her?’ He said, ‘Yes, perform Hajj on her behalf.’” [Muslim]
And Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Related Answers
- Is It Permissible to Perform the Sacred Pilgrimage for a Deceased Person? — A Hanafi answer on whether hajj badal is valid for someone who left no bequest and no instructions for a proxy pilgrimage.
- Can One Finance Someone Else to Perform Hajj on a Deceased Person’s Behalf? — Clarifies whether sponsoring another person’s hajj badal fulfills the duty owed to a deceased relative, with reference to Ibn Abidin.
- Would Hajj Badal Be Acceptable for My Obligatory Hajj? — Addresses whether a person who has not yet completed her own obligatory hajj may validly perform hajj badal for another.
- Can I Perform Hajj or Umra on Behalf of Someone Else? — A gentle overview of when proxy pilgrimage is valid and what is required of the person performing it.
Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he went on to study at Darul Uloom Seminary in New York and completed his studies at Darul Mustafa in Tarim, Yemen.
There, he completed the memorization of the Quran and his study of Islamic Sciences. Throughout his years of study, he was blessed to learn from many great scholars: Habib Umar bin Hafiz, Habib Kazhim al-Saqqaf, Shaykh ‘Umar bin Husayn al-Khatib, and others.
Upon returning, he joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.
