Can I Perform Badal Umrah for My Father Who Has Dementia?
Published: 17 May 2026 | Last Updated: 17 May 2026 Reviewed by: Sheikh Abdur-Rahman Al-Makki — Al-Azhar Graduate, Certified Islamic Scholar, currently based in Makkah, Saudi Arabia Author: Badal Umrah LTD Editorial Team | Reading time: ~9 minutes Yes — you can perform Badal Umrah for My Father Who Has Dementia. According to all four major schools of Islamic jurisprudence, a father with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease qualifies for proxy Umrah, because his condition permanently prevents him from performing the pilgrimage himself. In 2026, Saudi Arabia officially banned pilgrims with dementia from entering Makkah for Hajj or Umrah — which makes Badal Umrah not just permitted, but now the only way to gift your father this sacred act of worship. If your father once spoke of standing before the Kaaba, of making dua with his own hands, of completing what every Muslim heart longs for — and dementia has taken that possibility away from him — this guide is for you. It covers the Islamic ruling, the evidence from Hadith, every madhab’s position, and exactly how you can arrange Badal Umrah on his behalf. Badal Umrah for My Father Who Has Dementia Watching your father forget the names of his children is painful enough. But for many Muslim families, there is a deeper grief — the fear that dementia has also closed the door to Umrah for him forever. It has not. Badal Umrah for my father who has dementia is not only permitted in Islam — it is one of the most loving acts a child can offer a parent whose mind has been taken by this illness. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are now officially recognised by Saudi Arabia as conditions that permanently prevent a person from performing Hajj or Umrah in person. As of 2026, pilgrims with dementia are banned from travelling to Makkah. This makes Badal Umrah — proxy Umrah performed by a certified scholar on your father’s behalf — the only remaining path to this sacred worship for him. The Islamic ruling is clear and unanimous. All four major madhabs — Hanafi, Shafi’i, Maliki, and Hanbali — agree that a person with a permanent condition that prevents them from forming a valid Niyyah or completing the rituals of Umrah independently qualifies for Badal Umrah. Dementia meets this condition completely. Many families searching for answers about Badal Umrah for a father who has dementia are relieved to discover that scholars do not require the father’s explicit consent when he is no longer able to communicate — the child may proceed with sincere intention to benefit him. Our certified scholars in Makkah perform the full proxy Umrah — Ihram, Tawaf around the Kaaba, Sa’i between Safa and Marwah, and Halq — with your father’s name spoken clearly in the Niyyah. You receive HD video proof and a digital certificate within 72 hours. If you are ready to give your father this gift, book our Badal Umrah service from $199. If you have questions first, visit our Islamic FAQ page or contact us directly — we are here to help. What Is Badal Umrah? Badal Umrah — also known as proxy Umrah or Umrah Badal — is when a qualified Muslim performs the rituals of Umrah on behalf of another person who cannot do so themselves. The word badal (بدل) in Arabic means “substitute.” The person performing the Umrah makes a clear intention (Niyyah) that the worship is for the one being represented, not for themselves. The spiritual reward of the Umrah goes entirely to the person on whose behalf it is performed. The one carrying out the rites also earns their own reward — for the effort, the intention, and the act of love. Badal Umrah is Shariah-approved and practiced widely across the Muslim world. It is arranged for those who are deceased, elderly, or — as in your father’s case — permanently ill with a condition like dementia or Alzheimer’s that prevents them from travelling or completing the rituals on their own. You can learn more about the service on our Book Badal Umrah service page, or view our work proof to see how certified scholars perform every step in Makkah. Islamic Evidence: The Hadith and All Four Madhab Positions The Hadith The permissibility of proxy Umrah rests on a clear and authentic narration. Laqit ibn Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “I came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: My father is a very old man and cannot perform Hajj or Umrah, nor can he travel. He ﷺ replied: Perform Hajj and Umrah on behalf of your father.” — Sunan an-Nasa’i, Hadith 2621; Jami’ at-Tirmidhi, Hadith 930 (graded Sahih) This narration explicitly covers a father who is physically unable to travel — a description that fits dementia patients precisely, especially following Saudi Arabia’s 2026 ban. Scholars across all madhabs have used this Hadith as a foundation for the permissibility of Badal Umrah. For further scholarly backing, see the detailed fatwa on proxy pilgrimage at IslamQA.info and the fiqh analysis at SeekersGuidance.org — both open in a new tab. The Four Madhab Positions on Badal Umrah for a Person with Dementia Madhab Position on Badal Umrah for Dementia Patient Condition Required Hanafi ✅ Permitted Permanent cognitive incapacity; patient cannot form Niyyah independently Shafi’i ✅ Permitted Permanent physical or mental inability to perform the rites Maliki ✅ Permitted (with some scholars’ conditions) Inability must be permanent and verified; living patient’s permission via guardian if possible Hanbali ✅ Permitted Chronic, permanent inability — dementia clearly qualifies All four schools agree: a father with dementia, who has lost the cognitive ability to form proper intention or perform the rites independently, fully qualifies for Badal Umrah. There is no scholarly disagreement on this point. Does My Father with Dementia Qualify? The Conditions For a Badal Umrah to be valid, the person being represented must meet specific conditions. Here is how they apply to your father: Important: If you cannot travel to Makkah yourself, it is entirely permissible in






