Umrah Badal: Eligibility and Key Conditions
What should be verified before appointing someone to perform Umrah on behalf of another person?
Umrah Badal: Eligibility and Key Conditions
Umrah Badal is an act of worship performed with the intention of another person. It should not be treated merely as a service that is purchased and delivered.
Before submitting a request, it is therefore important to verify both the eligibility of the person on whose behalf the Umrah is to be performed and the requirements applied to the appointed performer.
This article explains the principal religious and operational standards adopted by Moneeb. Some subsidiary matters are subject to scholarly disagreement, and individual cases involving unusual circumstances may require advice from a qualified scholar.
1. The Person Must Be Deceased or Permanently Unable to Perform Umrah
Moneeb accepts Umrah Badal requests principally in two circumstances:
The person is a deceased Muslim.
The person is a living Muslim who is permanently unable to perform Umrah because of advanced age or an illness from which recovery is not reasonably expected.
A living person who is physically capable of performing Umrah does not become eligible merely because he or she is busy, finds travel difficult, does not currently wish to travel or is temporarily unable to afford the journey.
A temporary illness or injury from which recovery is reasonably expected is also not treated as permanent incapacity. In such a case, the person should wait until the temporary impediment has passed and perform Umrah personally.
The relevant consideration is not simply whether an illness exists, but whether the inability is lasting and is not ordinarily expected to end.
2. The Performer Should Have Completed Umrah Personally
Moneeb does not assign an Umrah Badal request to a person who has not previously completed Umrah for himself or herself.
This policy is based on the hadith of Ibn ‘Abbas concerning Shubrumah. The Prophet ﷺ heard a man reciting the Talbiyah on behalf of Shubrumah and asked whether the man had previously performed Hajj for himself. When he replied that he had not, the Prophet ﷺ instructed him to perform Hajj for himself first and then for Shubrumah.
The hadith concerns Hajj. A number of jurists apply the same principle to Umrah. Moneeb therefore adopts this requirement as a precaution in matters of worship and to confirm that an appointed performer has previously completed the rite personally.
A provider should have a clear onboarding or declaration procedure for this requirement rather than relying only on general marketing statements.
3. The Intended Person Must Be Identified at Ihram
The performer must enter Ihram intending to perform the Umrah for the particular person named in the request.
Intention is an act of the heart, and verbal declaration is not required for validity. It is nevertheless recommended for clarity that the performer identify the intended person when reciting the Talbiyah, for example:
“Labbayka ‘umratan ‘an [name].”
If the performer has made a clear intention in the heart for the person named in the request, the intention is sufficient even if the name is not spoken aloud.
Entering Ihram without identifying the intended person, or attempting to replace that person after the rite has begun, may create a jurisprudential issue. The beneficiary’s identity should therefore be confirmed before Ihram and should not be changed afterwards.
4. Consent of a Living Permanently Incapacitated Person
Scholars differ on some details concerning whether the consent of a living, permanently incapacitated person is required.
As a precautionary operating policy, Moneeb seeks to confirm the person’s consent whenever the person is conscious and able to express a decision, or at least to confirm that the person is aware of the request and does not object to it.
Where consent cannot be obtained because the person is unconscious or unable to communicate, the case should be assessed individually. Consulting a qualified scholar may be appropriate before the request is carried out.
Prior consent is not required from a deceased person. According to the position adopted by Moneeb, Umrah may be performed on behalf of a deceased Muslim even if the person did not leave specific instructions.
Can Umrah Badal Be Repeated for the Same Person?
Repeating Umrah Badal is not a condition for the validity of the first Umrah, and it is not necessary to treat one Umrah as the only Umrah that may ever be performed for that person.
A further voluntary Umrah may be performed for a deceased Muslim or a person with permanent incapacity according to recognised scholarly views, provided that each Umrah has its own Ihram, intention and complete rites.
Applicable regulations, crowd conditions and the need to avoid causing hardship to other pilgrims should also be respected.
Must the Performer Live in Makkah?
Residence in Makkah is not a religious condition for the validity of Umrah Badal.
The performer may live in Makkah or elsewhere, provided that Ihram is entered from the applicable Miqat according to the performer’s location and journey.
Being based in or near Makkah may make assignment and performance more practical, but it is an operational advantage rather than a condition of validity.
Must the Performer Be a Qur’an Memoriser or Student of Religious Knowledge?
Memorising the entire Qur’an or completing specialised religious studies is not a condition for the validity of Umrah.
The performer should, however:
Be a Muslim capable of performing the rites.
Understand the essential rulings of Umrah.
Be trustworthy in carrying out the request.
Maintain the specified intention.
Be able to complete Tawaf, Sa‘i and Tahallul correctly.
Follow applicable regulations, privacy requirements and documentation procedures.
Moneeb therefore distinguishes between religious conditions connected to the rite and additional service standards intended to improve the quality of performance.
What Happens If a Requirement Is Not Met?
The result depends on the particular requirement and the circumstances of the case.
If the intended person is living and physically capable of performing Umrah personally, Moneeb does not accept the case under its Umrah Badal eligibility policy.
If the performer has not previously completed Umrah for himself or herself, the platform does not permit that person to carry out Umrah Badal requests under its adopted policy.
If an error in the beneficiary’s name or intended identity is identified before Ihram, it must be corrected before the rite begins. If the error is discovered after Ihram or during the Umrah, processing of the request should be paused and the case reviewed before any conclusion is made regarding its completion.
A platform should not claim that an act of worship has or has not been accepted based solely on documentation or outward procedures. Acceptance and reward belong to Allah alone. The platform can only assess whether the observable steps and adopted requirements appear to have been satisfied.
Checklist Before Submitting a Request
Before making payment or appointing any provider, verify that:
The beneficiary is deceased or permanently unable to perform Umrah.
The performer has previously completed Umrah personally.
The intended beneficiary is identified before Ihram.
The consent of a living beneficiary is obtained where reasonably possible under the adopted policy.
The operating entity is identifiable and publishes clear terms.
The provider explains how performers are approved and requests are followed.
The scope and limitations of documentation are clearly stated.
The provider does not claim to guarantee religious acceptance or a specific amount of reward.
Conclusion
Umrah Badal depends on three central matters: the eligibility of the beneficiary, the suitability of the appointed performer and a specific intention at Ihram.
Consent for a living beneficiary, repeated Umrah and several other subsidiary issues involve further scholarly detail and should be explained clearly before a request is submitted.
Through these standards, Moneeb seeks to manage Umrah Badal requests with greater clarity and discipline without making claims beyond what a service platform can reasonably verify.
Religious References
The hadith of Ibn ‘Abbas concerning Shubrumah, reported by Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah.
The published rulings of Sheikh ‘Abdul ‘Aziz ibn Baz concerning Umrah on behalf of the deceased and permanently incapacitated, and performing the rite personally before doing so for another person.
Individual cases involving exceptional circumstances should be referred to a qualified scholar.
Religious disclaimer:
This article provides general religious information and summarises the eligibility and operating standards adopted by Moneeb for Umrah Badal. It is not a personal fatwa. Some subsidiary rulings may differ according to the circumstances of the case and the scholarly position followed.
Related articles
The ruling on Umrah by proxy for the deceased, the incapacitated, and the ill — the general ruling and evidence
When is Umrah by proxy not permitted? — forbidden cases and common mistakes
