A Complete Guide to Do Umrah on Behalf of Someone Else

There are very few worships in Islam that can be performed on behalf of another person. Many Muslims do Umrah or Hajj, give charity and do Qurbani (sacrifice) for their loved ones like blood relatives, spouses, friends or extended family members.

However, this worship, also known as Umrah Badal has some differences from the one performed for oneself. If you are looking to perform Umrah for someone, you are at the right place. In this guide, we will explain everything you need to know about performing Umrah Badal.

Before we get started, please note that an easy way to embark on this journey is to use affordable 4 star Umrah packages. These deals are quite helpful as they come with all the essential amenities like visa assistance, flights, hotels and on-ground transportation services.

Everything You Need to Know About Umrah Badal

Let’s discuss the steps of performing rituals of Umrah Badal.

Intention

The first and the most important thing in any Islamic worship is the intention behind it. Its importance increases even more when you do it for someone else as you have to make the intention very carefully so that everything is carried out in a proper way.

The indentation (niyyat) is made before wearing Ihram. You can make the intention in your heart as well but saying it verbally and slightly loudly is better. You can do intention like this: “Oh Allah, I intend to perform Umrah on behalf of your man or woman (take the name of that person); please accept it from my side and grant them its reward.”

Ihram

The next step is to wear Ihram. The person wearing the Ihram will follow all the rules and regulations of Ihram as he or she would do while performing Umrah for themselves.

If you don't know about Ihram, let us educate you on it. It is a set of two white clothes (unstitched sheets) for men and normal clothing for women with an abaya and a head scarf. When you are entering Ihram on someone’s behalf, you must offer two rakat nafals and then recite Talbiyah while adding their name. You can even say their name in your heart and then recite Talbiyah.

Tawaf

There is no difference in Tawaf. It is made up of seven rounds of Kaaba in an anticlockwise direction.

Sai

Then do Sai between the hills of Safa and Marwa. Sai is slightly different for men and women. Men are required to run between certain points or walk briskly if the crowds are high. Women must only walk to complete their Sai.

Shaving Head

The person who has performed Umrah Badal is liable to cut their hair. Women only need to trim their hair while men have the option to shave or cut hair around 1 inch. Shaving completely is preferred and Sunnah.

Dua

After shaving the head, Umrah is complete. Allah Almighty is so generous that he has not put any restrictions on praying after doing Umrah Badal. You can pray for yourself and the other person as well as much as you can.

What is the Eligibility for Umrah Badal?

When it comes to a worship like Umrah Badal, you need to adhere to a strict set of rules. We have explained the eligibility criteria for both the persons. Let’s check it out.�

Criteria for the Person on Whose Behalf Umrah is Performed

The most important thing to note here is that the person for whom the Umrah is going to be performed must be a Muslim. Then, Umrah Badal can be done for those that have passed away but couldn't do Umrah while they were alive. It is also permitted for people that are unable to perform Umrah due to chronic illness, old age or a permanent disability. You cannot do Umrah for someone who does not have enough financial resources because Umrah is only done on Allah’s call and Allah does not consider someone’s financial status before inviting them to His house for Umrah or Hajj. Another rule is that Umrah Badal cannot be done for someone who has performed Umrah once in their life before.

Criteria for the Person Performing Umrah Badal

The person who chooses to do Umrah Badal must have performed their own Umrah at least once. It is not permissible to do your first Umrah on behalf of someone else.

There is no restriction of gender but the person must be an adult and of sane mind. He must also make an intention on behalf of the person for whom the Umrah is done.

Can you do Multiple Umrah Badal During One Trip?

Yes. You can do more than one Umrah Badal in one trip but one Umrah can only count for one person at one time. If you want to perform Umrah for multiple people, then you have to remove the Ihram, go to the nearest Miqat (Masjid Aisha), do the intention and then wear the Ihram again.

If you are planning such a journey, make sure the duration of your trip is long enough to offer you room for such activities. A 7 nights 4 star Umrah package is a good idea. On day 1, you can do your own Umrah and then in the next couple of days, you can do Umrah for other people. If the list is long, then you can reduce your stay in Madinah so you get more time in Makkah.

Can You Pay Someone to Do Umrah Badal?

Yes. You can pay someone to do Umrah on behalf of another person. This is only allowed when the other conditions mentioned above are met. If a person is physically fit and can go for Umrah himself but prefers not to due to his worldly commitments, such an Umrah will not be accepted. Both the person doing it and the one asking him to do it will be severely penalized.

You can, however, ask a person to do Umrah for a deceased parent or family member and give them some money as a gesture of kindness. If a person opts for this as a job, it is not allowed.

Is Hajj Badal Allowed as Well?

Yes. Hajj Badal is permitted as well. The rules and regulations of Hajj Badal are the same as we have explained for Umrah Badal.