❖ Sharʿī Ruling on Appointing a Representative for Ḥajj or ʿUmrah ❖
Source: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
❖ Appointing a Proxy: Legal Verdict in Ḥajj or ʿUmrah
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
The Sharʿī ruling regarding appointing someone as a proxy (wakīl) to perform Ḥajj or ʿUmrah on one’s behalf is explained in the following detailed manner:
❖ Two Types of Proxy in Ḥajj or ʿUmrah
Appointing a representative for Ḥajj or ʿUmrah falls into two categories:
➊ Appointing a Proxy for Obligatory (Farḍ) Ḥajj or ʿUmrah
➋ Appointing a Proxy for Supererogatory (Nafl) Ḥajj or ʿUmrah
➊ Ruling on Appointing a Proxy for Farḍ Ḥajj or ʿUmrah
Appointing someone as a proxy for farḍ Ḥajj or ʿUmrah is not permissible in general circumstances, except in the following situations:
✿ When the person is physically incapable of reaching the House of Allah (Kaʿbah)
✿ When the individual suffers from a permanent illness with no hope of recovery
✿ When the person is extremely old and feeble
✅ If the illness is temporary and recovery is expected, then the individual should wait until Allah grants well-being, enabling him to perform Ḥajj himself.
❌ If someone is physically and financially capable, then:
— It is not permissible for such a person to appoint a proxy.
— The requirement of Shariah is that a person must perform his Ḥajj himself.
Qur’anic Evidence:
﴿وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا﴾
Sūrah Āl ʿImrān: 97
“And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House – for whoever is able to find thereto a way.”
❖ The Importance of Personal Worship in Islam
✿ Acts of worship are meant to cultivate humility and submission before the Lord.
✿ Appointing another to perform such acts nullifies the true essence and spirit of the worship.
➋ Ruling on Appointing a Proxy for Nafl Ḥajj or ʿUmrah
If someone has already performed the obligatory Ḥajj or ʿUmrah and now wishes to appoint a proxy for nafl (optional) pilgrimage:
✿ There is scholarly disagreement on this issue:
➊ Some scholars deem it permissible
➋ Others hold it to be impermissible
✔ The stronger and more correct view is that it is not permissible to appoint a proxy for nafl Ḥajj or ʿUmrah.
Reasons:
— The foundation of worship is that a person must perform it himself
— Just as a person cannot appoint someone to fast on their behalf, likewise, nafl Ḥajj or ʿUmrah cannot be done by proxy
— However, in the case of death, if obligatory fasts remain, then the guardian may fast on behalf of the deceased
❖ Ḥajj Is Both Physical and Financial Worship
✿ Ḥajj is not just a financial act, but a physical obligation that must be performed by the individual personally
✿ Performing physical acts of worship on behalf of others is not valid, unless there is clear evidence from the Sunnah
✿ Regarding nafl Ḥajj, there is no authentic narration proving that it can be performed on behalf of someone else
❖ View of Imām Aḥmad (رحمه الله)
✿ According to one narration from Imām Aḥmad:
➊ It is not permissible to appoint a proxy for nafl Ḥajj or ʿUmrah — whether one is capable or not
❖ Benefits of Following This Opinion
✔ Those who are physically and financially capable will personally fulfill this great obligation
✔ It will prevent the misuse of proxy where some individuals never travel to Makkah themselves and instead send others every year on their behalf
✔ This practice causes them to be deprived of the spiritual purpose for which this obligation was prescribed
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
