Proxy হজ্জ for a living person is permissible when the person is permanently unable to perform হজ্জ themselves — due to old age, chronic incurable illness, or permanent disability. This is based on the hadith of the woman from Khath'am about her elderly father. If the person recovers unexpectedly, scholars differ: the Maliki school requires them to perform হজ্জ again, while others consider the proxy হজ্জ sufficient.
Proxy হজ্জ for a living person is permissible when the person is permanently unable to perform হজ্জ due to old age, incurable chronic illness, or permanent physical disability that prevents travel and performing the rites. This is directly established by the hadith of the woman from Khath'am who asked নবী করীম about performing হজ্জ for her elderly father who could not sit firmly on a mount. নবী করীম explicitly permitted it.
Sheikh Ibn Baz stated that the key condition is permanent inability. A person who is temporarily ill, temporarily financially constrained, or simply unable to travel this particular year should wait until they are able. Proxy হজ্জ is not a convenience measure — it is a concession for genuine, permanent incapacity. He also clarified that the living person should fund the proxy's হজ্জ from their own wealth.
Sheikh Al-Fawzan addressed the question of what happens if the person unexpectedly recovers after proxy হজ্জ has been performed. The majority of scholars hold that the proxy হজ্জ is valid and the person does not need to perform হজ্জ again, because the obligation was fulfilled through the proxy. The Maliki school, however, holds that if the person recovers and becomes able to perform হজ্জ, they should perform it themselves, and the proxy হজ্জ becomes voluntary. Sheikh Al-Fawzan মুস্তাহাব following the majority position that the proxy হজ্জ fulfills the obligation.
A woman from Khath'am said: 'O Messenger of Allah, the obligation of হজ্জ has become due on my father, but he is an old man who cannot sit firmly on the riding animal. Shall I perform হজ্জ on his behalf?' He said: 'Yes.'
A woman from Khath'am said: 'O Messenger of Allah, the obligation of হজ্জ has become due on my father, but he is an old man who cannot sit firmly on the riding animal. Shall I perform হজ্জ on his behalf?' He said: 'Yes.'
নবী করীম (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) heard a man saying: 'Labbayk on behalf of Shubrumah.' He said: 'Have you performed হজ্জ for yourself?' He said: 'No.' He said: 'Perform হজ্জ for yourself first, then for Shubrumah.'
নবী করীম (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) heard a man saying: 'Labbayk on behalf of Shubrumah.' He said: 'Have you performed হজ্জ for yourself?' He said: 'No.' He said: 'Perform হজ্জ for yourself first, then for Shubrumah.'
Scholars from different schools of Islamic jurisprudence offer varying perspectives on this matter.
Proxy হজ্জ for a living person is valid when the incapacity is permanent. The living person must appoint the proxy themselves. If they recover, they do not need to perform হজ্জ again.
Al-Hidayah: proxy হজ্জ is valid for permanent incapacity based on the hadith of Khath'am.
The Maliki school permits proxy হজ্জ for the living but is more restrictive. If the person recovers, they should perform হজ্জ themselves. The proxy হজ্জ becomes voluntary in that case.
Al-Mudawwanah: if the person recovers, the obligation reverts to personal performance.
Proxy হজ্জ for a permanently incapacitated living person is valid and fulfills the obligation. The person does not need to repeat it even if they recover.
Al-Majmu' by al-Nawawi: proxy হজ্জ discharges the obligation for the permanently unable.
Proxy হজ্জ is valid for the permanently unable living person. If they recover, the majority Hanbali position is that they do not need to perform হজ্জ again.
Al-Mughni by Ibn Qudamah: the proxy হজ্জ fulfills the obligation for the permanently incapacitated.
This is a scholarly summary, not a personal fatwa. Consult your scholar for personal rulings.
A woman from Khath'am said: 'O Messenger of Allah, the obligation of হজ্জ has become due on my father, but he is an old man who cannot sit firmly on the riding animal. Shall I perform হজ্জ on his behalf?' He said: 'Yes.'
Sahih al-Bukhari #1513 (sahih)নবী করীম (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) heard a man saying: 'Labbayk on behalf of Shubrumah.' He said: 'Have you performed হজ্জ for yourself?' He said: 'No.' He said: 'Perform হজ্জ for yourself first, then for Shubrumah.'
Sunan Abu Dawud #1811 (sahih)