Is it permissible for a person to perform 'Umrah on behalf of his incapacitated parents?

The questioner : The questioner asks: Is it permissible for a person to perform 'Umrah on behalf of his parents, given that they are unable to perform 'Umrah?

The Shaykh : If this is for the obligatory pilgrimage, and the parents are unable to come and their worship is ongoing, then it is permissible for him to perform 'Umrah on their behalf. It is permissible for him to perform 'Umrah on their behalf, because it is established in the two Sahihs from the hadith of Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that a woman came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "O Messenger of Allah, my father reached the age of the obligation of Hajj upon him, but he is unable to ride a mount. Should I perform Hajj on his behalf?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Yes, perform Hajj on his behalf." This is if it is for the obligatory pilgrimage. As for if it is for the voluntary pilgrimage and a person wants to perform 'Umrah on behalf of his parents, this is a matter of disagreement among the scholars. The stronger view is that it is permissible. However, this is if he performs the 'Umrah from his own country, or from the inheritance. As for what some people do, where they go to Makkah in Ramadan and perform 'Umrah on their own behalf, then they proceed to the place of 'Arafah and perform 'Umrah on behalf of their parents or on behalf of someone else, this is not prescribed. We have previously explained that this is a bid'ah (religious innovation) and that the evidence indicates that it is not among the prescribed acts of worship.