Can one perform Hajj on behalf of another human being?
هل يجوز الحج عن الغير؟
Islamic law offers a merciful provision allowing capable individuals to perform Hajj on behalf of those who are physically incapacitated.
تقدم الشريعة الإسلامية رخصة رحيمة تتيح للأشخاص القادرين أداء الحج نيابة عن العاجزين بدنياً.
Rules of Hajj by Proxy (Hajj Al-Badal) | أحكام حج البدل
1. Valid Reasons for Proxy
If someone is unable to perform hajj due to old age or eternal illness, then it is permissible to let someone else perform hajj on his behalf. (This is established by the Hadith where a woman from the Khath'am tribe asked the Prophet ﷺ about her father who was too old and frail to sit firmly on a mount. The Prophet ﷺ replied: "Perform Hajj on his behalf." Sahih Al-Bukhari 1513).
1. الأعذار المبيحة للإنابة
إذا عجز المسلم عن الحج لشيخوخة أو مرض مزمن، فيجوز الحج عنه. (وهذا ثابت بالحديث عندما سألت امرأة من خثعم النبي ﷺ عن أبيها الذي أدركته فريضة الحج شيخاً كبيراً لا يستقر على الراحلة، فأجابها النبي ﷺ: "حجي عنه". صحيح البخاري 1513).
2. Financial Responsibility
If he has funds, then he should pay the expenses of the Hajj to the person who will go on his behalf. (Physical inability does not cancel the financial obligation. If the incapacitated person is wealthy, the cost of sending the proxy must come from their own wealth).
2. المسؤولية المالية
فإن كان له مال وجب عليه أن يبذل بماله عمن يحج عنه. (فالعجز البدني لا يسقط الوجوب المالي. فإذا كان العاجز غنياً، وجب أن تكون تكلفة إرسال النائب من ماله الخاص).
3. The Condition for the Delegate
That person should have previously performed Hajj himself. (A person cannot fulfill this pillar for someone else until they have fulfilled their own obligation. The Prophet ﷺ heard a man saying "Labbayk on behalf of Shubrumah." The Prophet ﷺ asked if he had performed Hajj for himself. When the man said no, the Prophet ﷺ instructed: "Perform Hajj for yourself first, then perform it on behalf of Shubrumah." Sunan Abi Dawud 1811).
3. شرط النائب
بشرط أن يكون هذا الشخص قد حج من قبل. (لا يمكن للشخص أن يؤدي هذا الركن عن غيره حتى يؤديه عن نفسه أولاً. سمع النبي ﷺ رجلاً يقول "لبيك عن شبرمة". فسأله النبي ﷺ إن كان قد حج عن نفسه. ولما أجاب الرجل بالنفي، أمره النبي ﷺ: "حج عن نفسك ثم حج عن شبرمة" سنن أبي داود 1811).
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Can I pay someone to perform Hajj on my behalf if I am too busy with work?
No. Being busy is not a valid excuse. Hajj by proxy is only permitted for those who are physically incapable of traveling due to severe old age, an incurable terminal illness, or death.
Can a person perform Hajj for someone else if they have never been to Hajj themselves?
No, they cannot. A strict condition for the proxy is that they must have already completed their own obligatory Hajj before they are allowed to perform it on behalf of another person.
Who pays for the expenses of the proxy Hajj?
If the incapacitated person possesses wealth, they are required to pay all the necessary travel and accommodation expenses from their own funds for the person acting as their proxy.