Umrah Al-Badal: Performing Umrah on Behalf

What is Umrah Al-Badal?

Umrah Al-Badal is the performance of Umrah by one person on behalf of another person who is unable to perform it themselves, such as a deceased person, a sick person, or someone who is unable to perform Umrah due to a valid health or Sharia-related reason. The applicable Sharia guidelines and conditions are observed..

The benefits of performing Umrah is that it removes poverty and sins

“Alternate between Hajj and Umrah; for those two remove poverty and sins” (Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi 810).

Expiation of sins

"(The performance of) `Umrah is an expiation for the sins committed between it and the previous `Umrah; and the reward of Hajj Mabrur (i.e., one accepted) is nothing but Jannah." [Al-Bukhari].

Is Umrah imposed only on those who are physically able to perform it? What about the deceased, the sick and those who are unable to perform Umrah for a legitimate reason?

Due to the tolerance of Islam, it has permitted those who are unable to perform Umrah to appoint someone to undertake such acts on their behalf, which is called "Al- Inabah" (delegation) in Umrah. What is Umrah Badal?

Who can Umrah be performed on behalf of?

Umrah on behalf of a deceased person

Umrah Al-Badal may be performed on behalf of a deceased Muslim, in accordance with the approved Sharia guidelines.

Umrah on behalf of a parent who meets the approved conditions

A parent is not considered eligible simply because they are a parent. A request may be made on behalf of a parent only if the parent is deceased, sick, unable to perform Umrah personally, or has a valid health or Sharia-related reason, in accordance with the approved guidelines.

Umrah on behalf of a sick or unable person

Umrah Al-Badal may also apply to people who are unable to perform Umrah due to illness, physical inability, or another valid health or Sharia-related reason, in accordance with the approved guidelines.

What is the ruling on Umrah Al-Badal?

A number of Islamic scholars have permitted performing Umrah on behalf of another person, whether for a deceased person or for someone who is unable to perform it themselves. This ruling is based on the established permissibility of performing Hajj on behalf of others, as well as the narrations and reports concerning performing Umrah on behalf of the deceased and those who are unable to perform it themselves.

Among the main evidences relied upon by scholars are:

• Analogy with performing Hajj on behalf of another person, which is established in the Sunnah.
• What has been reported in the Sunnah regarding performing Umrah on behalf of the deceased and those unable to perform the rites themselves.
• The opinions of a number of Islamic scholars permitting Umrah on behalf of another person, subject to the relevant Sharia requirements.

One of the requirements mentioned by scholars is that the person performing Umrah on behalf of someone else must have performed Umrah for themselves first.

Sharia Fatwas

Conditions of Umrah Badal:

• The person for whom Umrah Badal is performed shall be a Muslim, whether deceased or living and unable to perform Umrah for a legitimate reason.
• The performer shall be a Muslim, sane and adult.
• The performer must have first performed Umrah on his own behalf
• The performer's intention must be to perform Umrah for the seeker, not for himself or any other person.

How to perform Umrah Badal:

The rituals of Umrah Badal are performed by following all the rituals of Umrah for oneself (Ihram, Tawaf and Sa'i), with one simple difference, i.e.: the intention and the proclaiming Talbiah, instead of intending to perform Umrah for oneself, the performer must announce his intention to perform Umrah on behalf of the seeker, and in proclaiming Talbiah, he must say “Here I am, O Allah, here I am for Umrah on behalf of [Seeker’s name].” The intention may be said loudly or privily.

Performing Umrah for a deceased person:

The Sharia Opinion on performing Umrah for the deceased:

It has been established by the scholars of jurisprudence that performing Umrah for the deceased is permissible, as Umrah is a financial physical act in which delegation is permissible. Further, any person may preform Umrah on behalf of the deceased person without permission.

The scholars have unanimously stated that the reward of such acts reaches the deceased, and his degree will be elevated therewith, Insha’Allah.

How does Tawkeel support an Umrah Al-Badal request?

The Tawkeel app brings the request and follow-up into one service journey. After the required information is submitted, the request is assigned to a performer. The requester can use live Umrah tracking in the app to follow the progress of the Umrah. After the Umrah is completed, the completion certificate is available in the Tawkeel app.