Can I Do Umrah on Behalf of My Deceased Mother?

Published: May 2026 | Reviewed by: Certified Islamic Scholar, Badal Umrah LTD | Reading time: 8 min

Losing a mother is one of the most profound losses a person can face. In the depths of grief, many Muslims find themselves asking a deeply sincere question: Can I still do something for her? Can I send her a gift from this world into the next?

The answer is yes. Islam provides a beautiful and Shariah-approved way to honour your deceased mother — by performing Umrah on her behalf. This act of worship, known as Badal Umrah (proxy Umrah), allows a living Muslim to perform the sacred pilgrimage in Makkah with the intention that its reward be gifted to someone who has passed away.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know — the Islamic ruling, the conditions, how it works, and how you can arrange it for your beloved mother today.

What Is Badal Umrah?

Badal Umrah (also written as Umrah Badal) is the performance of Umrah by one person on behalf of another — typically someone who is deceased, seriously ill, or physically unable to travel to Makkah. The word badal in Arabic means “substitute” or “proxy.”

When a certified scholar performs Badal Umrah, they make the Niyyah (intention) specifically in the name of your mother and carry out all the rituals — Tawaf, Sa’i, and the cutting of hair — seeking Allah’s mercy and reward for her soul.

This is not simply a symbolic gesture. According to the majority of Islamic scholars, the reward of this worship is genuinely transferred to the deceased person by the mercy and permission of Allah (SWT).

Is It Permissible in Islam? The Scholarly Evidence

This is a YMYL (religious ruling) question that deserves a clear and evidence-based answer.

The Hadith Evidence

The clearest evidence for the permissibility of Badal Umrah comes from an authentic hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas (RA):

“A woman from the tribe of Juhaina came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: ‘My mother had vowed to perform Hajj but she died before performing it. May I perform Hajj on her behalf?’ The Prophet ﷺ replied: ‘Perform Hajj on her behalf. Had there been a debt on your mother, would you have paid it? Pay off Allah’s debt, for Allah has more right to be paid back.'” — Sahih Bukhari, Book 29, Hadith 77

While this hadith specifically mentions Hajj, Islamic scholars from all four major schools of jurisprudence have extended the same ruling to Umrah.

The Four Madhab Positions

For a deeper study of the Islamic rulings around proxy worship, the IslamQA fatwa on Badal Umrah by Sheikh Salih al-Munajjid provides a thorough scholarly breakdown.

Who Can Receive Badal Umrah?

Badal Umrah can be performed on behalf of:

1. A deceased person — including your mother, father, grandparent, sibling, or spouse
2. A person with a permanent illness — someone who is unable to travel to Makkah due to a serious, long-term medical condition
3. An elderly person — who is physically incapable of making the journey
4. A person who died before fulfilling their Umrah — especially if they had the intention but never had the opportunity

Important: Badal Umrah cannot be performed on behalf of a living, healthy person who is simply too busy or choosing not to go. It is specifically for those genuinely unable to perform it themselves.

Conditions for a Valid Badal Umrah

For the proxy Umrah to be Islamically valid, the following conditions must be met:

1. The person performing it must be a Muslim — non-Muslims cannot perform Badal Umrah on behalf of anyone.
2. The performer should have completed their own Umrah first — this is the position of the Shafi’i school and is recommended practice across all schools.
3. The correct Niyyah (intention) must be made — at the Miqat (the designated boundary before Makkah), the performer makes the intention specifically in the name of the deceased. For example: “O Allah, I make the intention for Umrah on behalf of [mother’s name].”
4. All pillars of Umrah must be completed — Ihram, Tawaf (7 circuits of the Kaaba), Sa’i (7 laps between Safa and Marwa), and Halq or Taqsir (cutting the hair).
5. The performer should be physically capable and present in Makkah — the rituals must be performed in person in the Haram.

At Badal Umrah LTD, every proxy Umrah is performed by certified scholars who are permanently based in Makkah — ensuring all conditions are met with full Islamic integrity.

How the Process Works — Step by Step

Here is exactly how Badal Umrah is arranged through a trusted service:

Step 1 — Book Online

You visit badal-umrah.com and select the Badal Umrah service. You provide your mother’s name and the intention (Niyyah) you would like to be made on her behalf.

Step 2 — Scholar Performs in Makkah

A certified Islamic scholar based in Makkah enters the state of Ihram at the Miqat, makes the Niyyah in your mother’s name, and performs the complete Umrah — Tawaf around the Kaaba, Sa’i between Safa and Marwa, and the cutting of hair — with full dedication and sincerity.

Step 3 — You Receive HD Video Proof + Certificate

Within 72 hours, you receive a high-definition video recording of the entire Umrah, along with a digital certificate confirming it was completed in your mother’s name. This gives you complete peace of mind.

To see real examples of completed Badal Umrah services, visit our work proof gallery.

Can a Son or Daughter Perform Badal Umrah for Their Mother?

Yes, absolutely. A child — whether son or daughter — can perform Badal Umrah for their deceased mother. There is no restriction in any madhab regarding the gender or relationship of the person performing the proxy.

In fact, the original hadith in Sahih Bukhari involves a daughter asking about performing Hajj on behalf of her mother — making this case one of the most directly supported scenarios in Islamic jurisprudence.

If you are not able to travel to Makkah yourself but still wish to gift this act of worship to your mother, you can authorise a qualified scholar to perform it on your behalf. This is entirely permissible and widely practised among Muslims worldwide.

What About Donating to Makkah in Your Mother’s Name?

Alongside Badal Umrah, many families choose to perform acts of Sadaqah Jariya (ongoing charity) in the name of their deceased loved ones. These acts continue to generate reward for the soul even after death.

From Makkah, you can donate:

• Quran copies to pilgrims — every time a pilgrim reads that Quran, your mother receives the reward
• Water to pilgrims — a deeply beloved act of charity in the Haram
• Iftar meals during Ramadan — feeding fasting pilgrims in the most blessed place on earth

These acts of charity, combined with Badal Umrah, create a powerful stream of ongoing reward reaching your mother’s soul insha’Allah.

AI Answer Summary — For Voice Search & Featured Snippets

Can I do Umrah on behalf of my deceased mother? Yes. Performing Umrah on behalf of a deceased mother is called Badal Umrah and is permissible in Islam according to all four major schools of jurisprudence (Hanafi, Shafi’i, Maliki, and Hanbali). The ruling is based on an authentic hadith in Sahih Bukhari. A certified Muslim scholar performs the complete Umrah — including Tawaf, Sa’i, and hair cutting — with the Niyyah (intention) made in the deceased mother’s name. The reward is gifted to her soul by the mercy of Allah.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Badal Umrah valid in Islam for a deceased person?

Yes. Badal Umrah for a deceased person is valid and supported by authentic hadith evidence and scholarly consensus across all four major madhabs. The Prophet ﷺ explicitly permitted proxy worship for the deceased in Sahih Bukhari.

Who is eligible to perform Badal Umrah on behalf of my mother?

Any practicing Muslim who has already performed their own Umrah can perform Badal Umrah. At Badal Umrah LTD, the service is carried out exclusively by certified Islamic scholars permanently residing in Makkah.

How do I know the Umrah was actually performed?

You receive a full HD video recording of the complete Umrah performance, along with a digital certificate of completion — both delivered within 72 hours of the service. You can view sample work proofs here.

Can a woman perform Badal Umrah for her deceased mother?

Yes. There is no restriction on a woman performing Badal Umrah on behalf of another woman or man. The original hadith in Sahih Bukhari involves a daughter asking about performing proxy worship for her deceased mother, which the Prophet ﷺ fully approved.

Does Badal Umrah need to be done during a specific time?

No. Unlike Hajj, Umrah can be performed at any time of the year. However, performing it during Ramadan carries multiplied rewards — equivalent to the reward of Hajj according to some narrations. We offer a special Ramadan Badal Umrah service for this reason.

How much does Badal Umrah cost?

Badal Umrah starts from $199 for a full proxy Umrah performed by a certified scholar in Makkah, including HD video proof and a digital certificate. View full pricing and book here.

Can I perform Badal Umrah for more than one deceased person?

According to the Shafi’i and Hanbali schools, a separate Umrah must be performed for each individual. One Umrah cannot be dedicated to multiple deceased persons simultaneously.

What is the difference between Badal Umrah and Badal Hajj?

Badal Umrah is a proxy performance of the Umrah pilgrimage — a shorter ritual that can be done at any time of year. Badal Hajj is a full proxy Hajj — a more comprehensive pilgrimage that can only be performed during the Hajj season (Dhul Hijjah). Badal Hajj includes additional rituals such as standing at Arafah and staying at Muzdalifah.

Ready to Honour Your Mother?

Your mother gave you everything. Badal Umrah is one of the most meaningful gifts you can now give back to her — a complete act of worship performed in the holiest place on earth, with her name on every step.

Our certified scholars in Makkah are ready. Every Umrah comes with HD video proof and a digital certificate — delivered within 72 hours.

Book Badal Umrah — $199 →

Trusted by Muslims worldwide. 4,750+ Badal Umrahs performed. Saudi-based certified scholars. Video proof guaranteed.

Have more questions? Visit our Islamic FAQ page or contact us directly — we are happy to help.

For further scholarly reading on proxy worship in Islam, refer to IslamQA.info and SeekersGuidance.org.