Umrah Badal, a deeply revered Islamic practice, involves performing the Umrah pilgrimage in Makkah on behalf of someone who is unable to undertake it themselves due to illness, old age, or death. This act of substitution, rooted in compassion and devotion, allows Muslims to meet sacred obligations for their loved ones. This article explains the significance of Umrah Badal, who it’s for, how it is performed, and its link to Hajj Badal — and, further down, where Qurbani Easy stands on this service today.
The Sacred Significance of Umrah Badal
Umrah, known as the lesser pilgrimage, is a voluntary act of worship that Muslims can perform at any time of the year, unlike Hajj, which is a mandatory pillar of Islam with a fixed period. Umrah Badal extends this opportunity to those who cannot travel to Makkah themselves. The term “badal” means “substitution” in Arabic, signifying that another person performs the rituals — entering Ihram, completing Tawaf around the Kaaba, performing Sa’i between Safa and Marwah, and shaving or trimming the hair — on behalf of the intended recipient. This practice is supported by authentic Hadith, such as when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) permitted a man to perform Hajj and Umrah for his elderly father who could no longer travel or ride (Sunan Abu Dawud 1810, narrated by Abu Razin al-Uqayli, graded hasan).
The sacred benefit of Umrah Badal is significant. It allows individuals who are physically incapacitated, or who have passed away, to receive the blessings of this sacred journey through a loved one arranging it on their behalf.
Who Can Perform Umrah Badal, and For Whom?
According to a widely-cited ruling on this question from Shaykh Ibn Baz, a few conditions apply:
The proxy should have already performed their own Umrah before performing one on behalf of someone else.
For a living person, Umrah Badal is permitted when they are unable to perform it themselves because of old age or an illness with no hope of recovery. It is not permissible on behalf of someone who is able to perform Umrah themselves. Under this specific ruling, formal permission from the living person is not a requirement — though many families choose to let them know regardless, as a matter of courtesy.
For someone who has passed away, Umrah Badal can be arranged by their family.
Fiqh rulings on the precise conditions can vary between scholars, so if your own situation is more specific than what’s covered here, it’s worth asking a qualified scholar directly rather than relying on a general summary.
How to Perform Umrah on Behalf of Someone Else
Once the conditions above are met, Umrah Badal follows the same physical steps as a personal Umrah — the difference is entirely in the intention behind it.
1. Confirm the conditions are met. Before anything else, the proxy should have already completed their own Umrah.
2. Form the intention (niyyah). The proxy should clearly intend, before entering Ihram, that this particular Umrah is being performed on behalf of the named person. There is no specific source establishing a fixed form of words that must be recited for this, so this guide does not prescribe one — what matters is holding that intention clearly in mind.
3. Enter Ihram. The proxy enters the state of Ihram from the Miqat point, exactly as they would for their own Umrah.
4. Recite the Talbiyah. The Talbiyah is recited while holding the intention of representing the other person throughout.
5. Perform Tawaf. The proxy circles the Kaaba seven times, keeping the person they are representing in mind.
6. Perform Sa’i. Walking between Safa and Marwah completes the core rituals, again performed with the same intention held throughout.
7. Halq or Taqsir. Shaving (halq) or trimming (taqsir) the hair marks the completion of the Umrah.
8. Completion. Once these steps are done, the Umrah Badal is complete. The intention throughout has been that this Umrah stands on behalf of the named person — its reward, by Allah’s mercy, is for them.
Umrah Badal vs. Hajj Badal
Hajj Badal concerns the Hajj pilgrimage; Umrah Badal concerns Umrah. Both follow the same underlying principle — one person performing the pilgrimage on behalf of another — but Hajj takes place during a fixed period each year, the days of Dhul Hijjah, while Umrah can be performed at any time of year, so Umrah Badal can be arranged whenever it’s needed rather than during a set season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Umrah Badal be performed for a living person?
Yes, when that person is unable to perform it themselves due to old age or an illness with no hope of recovery. It is not permitted on behalf of someone who is able to perform Umrah themselves.
Is Umrah Badal valid for someone who left no will?
Yes — for a deceased person, Umrah Badal can be arranged by their family even if they never formally requested it before passing. This follows the same reasoning the Prophet ﷺ gave when a woman asked to perform Hajj on behalf of her mother, who had vowed to go but died before she could (Sahih al-Bukhari 1852).
Does Qurbani Easy Currently Offer Umrah Badal?
Qurbani Easy offered Umrah Badal as an active service in the past. This service has since been discontinued and is not currently available to book. If you arrived here looking to arrange an Umrah Badal, we’re not able to help with that at the moment.
Qurbani Easy continues to offer Online Qurbani, Sadqah, and Aqeeqah. These services remain available to book in India, with the meat distributed to people in need.
Sources
- Sunan Abu Dawud 1810 — Abu Razin al-Uqayli narration concerning Hajj and Umrah on behalf of an elderly father.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 1852 — Ibn Abbas narration concerning Hajj on behalf of a deceased mother.
- Shaykh Ibn Baz, via IslamQA — ruling concerning Umrah on behalf of another person.