Is One Allowed to Perform ‘Umra for One’s Non-Muslim Parents?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
As a convert to Islam, is it possible for me to do umrah for my Christian parents, who have now passed away, for their reward and forgiveness? Would this be valid?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
I empathize with you on how greatly you would want to repay and reward your beloved mother.
It would not be permissible to do ‘Umra on behalf of your beloved parents.
After the death of someone who died without faith (iman), it is not permissible to make du’a for their forgiveness neither any action done for them will be valid. Many hadiths mention this, and there is scholarly consensus (ijma’) on this matter.
Allah Most High says, “it is not (proper) for the Prophet and the believers to seek forgiveness for the polytheists, even if they were close relatives.” [Quran, 9:113; Al-Mawsu‘a al-Fiqhiyya Al Kuwaitiyya]
As for making du’a that Allah Most High gives them what is best for them, or that which they deserve, even after death, while assigning their affairs to Allah Most High, there is nothing wrong with this. As for the actual fate of non-Muslims in the hereafter, it is discussed in the two links provided below. We consign their matters to Allah Most High, His wisdom, justice, and ultimate mercy, amin
Check the links:
What Is The Fate of a Non-Muslim in The Afterlife? – SeekersGuidance
Can We Pray for Non-Muslims Who Passed Away? (seekersguidance.org)
Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance?
SeekersAcademy (seekersguidance.org)
I pray this helps with your question.
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied within UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan and Turkey.
He started his early education in UK. He went onto complete hifz of Qur’an in India, then enrolled into an Islamic seminary in UK where he studied the secular and Alimiyyah sciences. He then travelled to Karachi, Pakistan.
He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for a number of years. He has taught hifz of the Qur’an, Tajwid, Fiqh and many other Islamic sciences to both children and adults onsite and online extensively in UK and Ireland. He was teaching at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences.
He currently resides in UK with his wife. His personal interest is love of books and gardening.
