What are the conditions that must be met for a proxy হজ্জ to be valid?

Proxy হজ্জ (হজ্জ al-badal) has specific conditions that must be fulfilled for it to be valid. All four schools agree on the core requirements, with some variation in details. The fundamental conditions are agreed upon by the scholars based on the hadith evidence.

Sheikh Ibn Baz outlined the conditions as follows: First, the proxy must be a Muslim of sound mind and must have reached puberty. Second, the proxy must have already performed their own ওয়াজিব হজ্জ before performing হজ্জ for someone else — this is based on the hadith of Shubrumah. Third, the person on whose behalf হজ্জ is performed must be either deceased or permanently unable to perform হজ্জ due to old age or incurable illness. Temporary illness or temporary financial difficulty does not justify proxy হজ্জ. Fourth, the proxy must make the intention (niyyah) at the miqat specifically on behalf of the other person, saying 'Labbayk on behalf of [name].' Fifth, the proxy performs all the rites exactly as they would for their own হজ্জ.

Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen added that the proxy should be someone known for their religiousness and trustworthiness, as they are performing a sacred act of worship. He also clarified that the proxy earns reward for their good deed, while the full reward of হজ্জ goes to the person on whose behalf it is performed. If the proxy commits a violation during হজ্জ that requires a penalty, they bear the penalty themselves, not the person on whose behalf they are performing হজ্জ.