Repeating Hajj as a voluntary act or on behalf of living or deceased relatives

The questioner:
My brother, Honorable Shaykh, may Allah reward you. Is it better for a person to repeat Hajj for himself as a voluntary act, or to intend it for one of his living or deceased relatives?

The Shaykh:
The living? No, the living perform Hajj themselves as long as they are alive. Unless one is unable due to a permanent incapacity and cannot perform the obligatory Hajj, in which case the obligatory Hajj is performed on his behalf. As for voluntary Hajj, it is not performed on behalf of a living person; it is not performed on behalf of a living person. Do you know the evidence for this? This ruling was only established for a living person who has the obligation of Hajj but is unable to perform it. Yes.

The questioner:
You ask: Is it better for a person to repeat Hajj for himself as a voluntary act, or to intend it for one of his deceased or living relatives?

The Shaykh:
For the deceased, yes, Hajj is performed on their behalf as an obligation and as a voluntary act, because this is an act of kindness toward them. As for the living, Hajj is only performed on their behalf as an obligation if they are unable to perform it, whether currently or in the future, so the obligation is performed on their behalf. As for the voluntary act, Hajj is not performed on their behalf as a voluntary act, because there is no evidence for this.

The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success.

The Shaykh:
He has the choice. If he wishes, he performs Hajj for himself, and if he wishes, he performs it for his deceased relatives. This is a good thing, and he receives reward in either case. Yes.