Can you do hajj, umrah or tawaf on behalf of someone else?

Can you perform Umrah or Tawaf on behalf of someone else?

Can you perform Umrah or Tawaf on behalf of a loved one who has passed away or someone unable to go themselves? The answer is: yes, you can. Here’s what you need to know.

Performing Umrah for someone else (Umrah Badal)

You can perform Umrah on behalf of another person. This is called Umrah Badal. However, it’s important to understand that when you do this, it does not count as your own Umrah.

To perform Umrah Badal, you must first make a clear intention (niyyah) that this Umrah is for the other person—whether they are deceased or physically unable to go themselves.

If you wish to perform Umrah for yourself as well, you’ll need to do it separately with a new intention and begin from the meeqat.

Can you do Tawaf for someone else?

You cannot perform Tawaf (the circumambulation around the Kaaba) on behalf of someone else, but you can perform it and gift the reward to others. This can be multiple people. They can be alive or deceased. Unlike Umrah or Hajj, you do not need to go back to the meeqat (entry point to Ihram) to do Tawaf for others.

What about Hajj?

When it comes to Hajj, the rules are a bit more specific. You may only perform Hajj on behalf of someone else if:

• You have already completed your own obligatory Hajj.
• The person you are doing it for is either deceased or permanently unable to perform Hajj due to illness or physical limitations.

Like with Umrah Badal, the intention is key here as well.

Shaykh Haytham Tamim 27th April 2025