Paying Someone for Badal Umrah: Rulings and What to Ask

Yes, most scholars say you may pay someone to perform Umrah on behalf of a person who has died or who is permanently unable to travel. The payment should be understood as covering the proxy’s time, effort and travel, not as buying the worship itself. This guide explains what the scholars say, where they differ, and what to ask before you pay anyone, whether it is a relative, a friend or a service like ours.

TL;DR

• Scholars from several schools permit paying a trustworthy person to perform Umrah for a deceased person or a living person who is permanently unable, because of old age or incurable illness.
• The fee is acceptable as compensation for time, effort and travel. Some scholars warn against turning proxy Umrah into a profit-making trade, so choose a provider who is sincere and transparent.
• The proxy should have performed their own Umrah first, must be trustworthy and knowledgeable, and should intend the named person when entering ihram.
• Before paying, ask who will perform the Umrah, whether it will be delegated, and what proof you will receive.

Table of Contents

• Is it permissible to pay for Umrah on someone’s behalf?
• Compensation for effort, not a price on worship
• A stricter view you should know about
• Who may have Umrah performed for them
• What the person you pay must meet
• How the proxy makes the intention
• Questions to settle before you pay
• A note on Shi’i and other legal views
• Choosing between paying a relative, a friend or a service
• Our packages and what they cost
• Our perspective
• FAQ
• Sources

Is it permissible to pay for Umrah on someone’s behalf?

The short answer from the sources we rely on is yes. IslamQA states that there is nothing wrong with giving money to someone to perform Umrah for a deceased person, or for a living person who is unable to perform it. Sheikh Assim Al-Hakeem gives the same ruling. He covers a deceased person and a living person who is permanently unable because of old age or an incurable illness. His condition is that the person you choose is trustworthy and knowledgeable.

The question is not whether money may change hands. It is what the money is for. Scholars draw a line between paying for a service and selling an act of worship.

Compensation for effort, not a price on worship

Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta has been reported on this point. Al-Ahram Gate reported in April 2025 that its Fatwa Secretary, Amr al-Wardani, permitted payment when it compensates the proxy’s time, effort and travel. It should not be treated as a price for the worship. The intention must stay directed to Allah rather than to commerce.

A report attributed to Al-Azhar in September 2023 says something similar. Travel and accommodation costs may be given to a proxy for a person with a valid excuse. But making proxy Umrah a profession that earns profit is objectionable. The same report treats permission given case by case as a safeguard, so that a sacred exception does not become a mass marketplace.

In practice this means a fair fee that covers real costs is one thing. A provider who treats the pilgrimage as a volume business is another. That is why transparency matters so much when you choose.

A stricter view you should know about

Not every scholar or institution agrees. Islamic Knowledge UK presents a stricter position. It says Umrah is voluntary and that taking payment as a business for the worship should be avoided. It treats a voluntary gift differently from a fee.

If you follow a scholar or a school that holds this stricter view, ask your own trusted scholar before you pay. Many families resolve it by agreeing a fee that clearly covers costs, and by choosing a proxy who is performing the Umrah out of sincerity.

Who may have Umrah performed for them

Proxy Umrah is an exception. Normally worship is performed personally. Jordan’s General Iftaa Department states that delegation is allowed for someone unable because of incurable illness or old age. A person who is physically and financially capable may not delegate. The Standing Committee in Saudi Arabia, as published on IslamHouse, says proxy Umrah is correct for someone physically unable or for a deceased person. Someone who is unable only for financial reasons is not obliged to perform Umrah.

This gives three common situations:

1. A deceased parent or relative. Families often arrange Umrah for them. See our guide on Umrah for deceased parents.
2. An elderly parent who cannot travel. Our page on Badal Umrah for an elderly parent explains the rulings in more detail.
3. A living person with a lasting illness. The incapacity should be lasting, not temporary. Read who counts as permanently unable before booking.

If the person is alive, they should also give permission. Jordan’s Iftaa Department says a living incapacitated person must authorize the proxy. Islamweb says the same. It also says the incapacity must be chronic.

What the person you pay must meet

Whether you pay a relative, a friend or an organization, the same conditions apply.

Their own Umrah comes first

Jordan’s Iftaa Department says the proxy must have performed Hajj and Umrah for themselves. Islamhelpline gives the same condition. Ask for this directly. A proxy who has never performed Umrah does not meet it.

Trustworthy and knowledgeable

Ibn Uthaymeen advised choosing a proxy whose religious commitment, trustworthiness and knowledge of the rites can be relied on. The reason he gave was that ignorance leads to many mistakes. The advice was given about Hajj, and IslamQA records it. It applies just as sensibly to Umrah. A proxy who rushes a rite or skips part of it puts your payment and your intention at risk.

Gender and age

Families often ask whether a woman may be a proxy, or whether a young person can do it. We have written separate guides on gender rules for proxies, the eligibility rules for a female proxy and how to avoid a minor as proxy.

How the proxy makes the intention

The proxy intends the Umrah for the named person when entering ihram. Ibn Baz’s published fatwa states this, and he says naming the beneficiary aloud is preferable but not essential. Islamhelpline explains that the intention is made in the heart for the specified person. Saying the name aloud is not required. It adds that it is permissible, and preferable, to say during the Talbiyah: “Labbayk Allahumma 'an [name].”

So give the proxy the full name of the person clearly, in writing. You do not need to dictate a formula.

The rites themselves are the usual ones. The proxy enters ihram at the miqat, performs Tawaf, prays two rak’ahs behind Maqam Ibrahim, performs Sa’i between Safa and Marwah, and then cuts or shortens the hair.

Questions to settle before you pay

Most problems with paid proxy Umrah come from things that were never said. Settle these in writing.

Will the proxy do it personally?

IslamQA says a proxy should perform the appointed Umrah personally unless the appointing party is told and accepts delegation to someone else. So ask plainly: who will perform it, and may they pass it to another person? If you accept delegation, ask who that person would be.

Will one person do Umrah for several people?

This is where the schools differ. Darul Ifta, Darul Uloom Deoband states that one badal Umrah is performed for one person only. Gifting the reward of one’s own voluntary worship to several people is treated separately. The office of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid M.S. Al-Hakeem gives a different view. A recommended Umrah may be performed for more than one person, and naming each is not obligatory.

The safe approach is to ask the provider whether your booking is for one named person, and to expect a yes. If you want one Umrah for your whole family, say so before booking and choose a package made for that.

IslamQA also warns against accepting many assignments and then outsourcing them for less money without the clients’ approval. It describes this as unlawful consumption of entrusted wealth.

What does the fee include?

Ask what the amount covers. Travel, ihram, accommodation, the rites and the documentation are the usual items. A fixed price for each package, with no extra charges later, is easier to trust than an open-ended arrangement.

What proof will you receive?

Proof is part of the trust you are placing in the proxy. Ask in advance which of these you will receive:

• the named intention for your loved one
• photos or video taken during the rites
• a certificate of completion
• the identity of the proxy, and confirmation that they performed their own Umrah first

We cover this in depth in Saudi fatwas, eligibility and proof before you pay. If you want to avoid fraudulent offers, read three official checks to avoid badal Umrah scams.

A note on Shi’i and other legal views

The rulings above are mainly Sunni. The Shi’i Guide to Hajj Rites states that proxy pilgrimage may be voluntary or by hire, provided the agent is Muslim, knowledgeable and reliable. Its rules concern Hajj, so do not treat them as a universal ruling on Umrah. If you follow a particular school, ask a scholar from it before booking.

Choosing between paying a relative, a friend or a service

A relative or friend who is already traveling for Umrah is a valid choice. It costs little. But it depends on their trip, their schedule and their knowledge of the rites. Many families do not have anyone traveling, or do not know whether the person is qualified. Here a documented service gives you a named proxy, a set price and proof.

If you are comparing this with a trip of your own, our guide to badal Umrah or your own trip sets out the rulings. For a wider overview, see is Umrah for others allowed.

Our packages and what they cost

We charge a one-time fee per booking. There are no recurring charges. Prices are as published on our site:

The Umrah packages differ in speed and features. Each comes with documentation, videos and a certificate, with support from our team. When you are ready, you can book your Umrah here. Our fee covers the work of the proxy and the service around it. A portion of our profits is pledged to charity, including support for Gaza.

Our perspective

We hear one worry again and again: “Is it right to pay for something so sacred?” We take it seriously, and so should you. The scholars we have cited agree that the answer lies in what the payment is for. It pays for a person’s time, effort and journey. It does not put a price on the reward, which belongs to Allah alone.

That is why we keep our pricing fixed and published. It is why we describe each package openly, and why we send proof of every Umrah: the named intention, the documentation and the certificate. Our work follows Islamic law and is verified by qualified imams. We would rather you ask us hard questions than book in doubt. If your own scholar holds a stricter view, we respect it, and we encourage you to follow his guidance.

For you, for your loved ones, for their forgiveness: the aim is a sincere Umrah, done properly, with nothing hidden from the family.

— anas

FAQ

Can a proxy be paid for Umrah?

Yes, according to many scholars, as long as the money compensates the proxy’s time, effort and travel. It should not be a price for the worship itself. Some scholars take a stricter view and discourage treating it as a business, so ask your own scholar if you are unsure.

Can I pay someone to do Umrah for a person who has died?

Yes. Both IslamQA and Sheikh Assim Al-Hakeem say it is permissible to give money to a trustworthy person to perform Umrah for a deceased person. The proxy should have done their own Umrah first and should intend the named person when entering ihram.

Can I pay for Umrah on behalf of a living person?

Only if they are permanently unable to travel, for example because of old age or an incurable illness. They should also give permission. A person who is physically and financially able should perform Umrah themselves.

Can one proxy perform Umrah for more than one person?

Scholars differ. The Deoband Darul Ifta says one badal Umrah is for one person only, while other scholars allow a recommended Umrah for several. Ask the provider in advance and make sure each person you pay for is covered by their own booking.

Sources

• IslamQA: Can you delegate someone to perform Umrah on behalf of another
• Sheikh Assim Al-Hakeem: Delegating someone to perform Umrah on behalf of the deceased
• Al-Ahram Gate: Al-Wardani on paid Hajj and Umrah for others
• Al-Azhar ruling on paid proxy Umrah, reported by E3lam
• Islamic Knowledge UK: Can payment be taken for Umrah al-badal
• Jordan Iftaa Department: Delegating someone to perform Umrah
• IslamHouse: Doing Hajj and Umrah on behalf of another
• Islamweb: Making Umrah on behalf of the living and the deceased
• Islamhelpline: Mentioning the name of the person on whose behalf one performs Umrah
• Ibn Baz: Performing Umrah on behalf of the deceased or incapable
• Darul Ifta Deoband: Hajj or Umrah for multiple people
• Office of Grand Ayatollah Al-Hakeem: Umrah for more than one person
• The Guide to Hajj Rites

Recommended

• 3 Screening Steps to Choose an Umrah Representative Before You Pay
• Badal Umrah or Your Own Trip? Scholar Rulings, Nusuk, and Proof
• Badal Umrah: Saudi Fatwas, Eligibility and Proof Before You Pay
• From $150–$500: Badal Umrah Packages, Proof, and What Buyers Get