On acting as a proxy for another: In recent times, acting as a proxy for another in Hajj has become common; so would you be so kind, O honorable Shaykh!
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The questioner : A questioner says: O honorable Shaykh! Regarding acting as a proxy for another, in recent times, acting as a proxy for another in Hajj has become common. So would you be so kind, O honorable Shaykh, to explain these matters: First: What is the legislated proxy in the obligatory and voluntary acts, and what is its nature?
The Shaykh : Yes. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
The original principle in acts of worship is that they be performed by the person addressed by them, because their purpose is to rectify the heart and draw near to Allah (Mighty and Majestic). If a person appoints another to perform them on his behalf, he does not gain this great benefit. For example: if a person appoints someone to perform Hajj on his behalf, you will find the one in the state of ihram avoiding the prohibited acts. And you will find the one who appointed him indulging in whatever desires he wants, and perhaps even in sins. So where is the worship? Therefore, we say: appointing a proxy in Hajj, if it is for an obligatory duty, and the one who appointed him is unable to perform it in a manner where its removal is not expected, then there is no harm in it. This is because a woman asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about her father, who was an old man whom the obligation had overtaken—the obligation of Hajj—and she said:. This is clear due to his inability. Likewise, if a person died without having performed Hajj and someone wants to perform Hajj on his behalf, there is no harm in it, because a woman asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): her mother had vowed to perform Hajj but did not do so until she died. He said: .
As for appointing a proxy in voluntary acts, there are two narrations from Imam Ahmad: one is that it is permissible, and the other is that it is not permissible. He distinguished between it and the obligatory duty by stating that the obligatory duty must be performed either by the person himself or by his proxy, whereas the voluntary act does not. The people’s current negligence regarding proxy in Hajj is not in the custom of the Salaf. Nor did they dare to engage in this proxy in this manner. Then, some people appoint proxies for some of the acts of Hajj; they appoint, they appoint for some of the acts of Hajj. For example, some people appoint someone to throw the pebbles on their behalf while they are capable of throwing them; you find them sitting in the tent with their companions talking as if they are on a picnic, saying, "So-and-so, take my pebbles and throw them for me." Where is the worship? Hajj is worship, O our brothers; it is not merely actions you perform; it is worship by which a person draws near to his Lord (Mighty and Majestic). Therefore, the accepted Hajj has no reward except Paradise. So it is not recommended to frequent the appointment of proxies. But better than that, if a person has already performed the obligatory duty, he should see a man who is unable to perform the obligatory duty and give him money to perform Hajj with it. Thus, he would have assisted in an obligatory Hajj and would have a reward like that of the doer, meaning: he has the reward of the obligatory duty, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 1895b. Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
The original principle in acts of worship is that they be performed by the person addressed by them, because their purpose is to rectify the heart and draw near to Allah (Mighty and Majestic). If a person appoints another to perform them on his behalf, he does not gain this great benefit. For example: if a person appoints someone to perform Hajj on his behalf, you will find the one in the state of ihram avoiding the prohibited acts. And you will find the one who appointed him indulging in whatever desires he wants, and perhaps even in sins. So where is the worship? Therefore, we say: appointing a proxy in Hajj, if it is for an obligatory duty, and the one who appointed him is unable to perform it in a manner where its removal is not expected, then there is no harm in it. This is because a woman asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about her father, who was an old man whom the obligation had overtaken—the obligation of Hajj—and she said:
O Messenger of Allah! Should I perform Hajj on his behalf? He said: Yes.
يا رسول الله! أحج عنه؟ قال : نعمPerform Hajj on her behalf.
حجي عنهاAs for appointing a proxy in voluntary acts, there are two narrations from Imam Ahmad: one is that it is permissible, and the other is that it is not permissible. He distinguished between it and the obligatory duty by stating that the obligatory duty must be performed either by the person himself or by his proxy, whereas the voluntary act does not. The people’s current negligence regarding proxy in Hajj is not in the custom of the Salaf. Nor did they dare to engage in this proxy in this manner. Then, some people appoint proxies for some of the acts of Hajj; they appoint, they appoint for some of the acts of Hajj. For example, some people appoint someone to throw the pebbles on their behalf while they are capable of throwing them; you find them sitting in the tent with their companions talking as if they are on a picnic, saying, "So-and-so, take my pebbles and throw them for me." Where is the worship? Hajj is worship, O our brothers; it is not merely actions you perform; it is worship by which a person draws near to his Lord (Mighty and Majestic). Therefore, the accepted Hajj has no reward except Paradise. So it is not recommended to frequent the appointment of proxies. But better than that, if a person has already performed the obligatory duty, he should see a man who is unable to perform the obligatory duty and give him money to perform Hajj with it. Thus, he would have assisted in an obligatory Hajj and would have a reward like that of the doer, meaning: he has the reward of the obligatory duty, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):