We go, praise be to Allah, every year to the Noble Mecca for 'Umrah in the blessed month of Ramadan, and each time I intend the 'Umrah for my father, and another time I intend it for my mother.
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The questioner : We go, praise be to Allah, every year to the Noble Mecca for 'Umrah in the blessed month of Ramadan, and each time I intend the 'Umrah for my father, and another time I intend it for my mother. But the last time, I intended it for both of them together. So when I asked about the ruling on this 'Umrah, I was told that it counts for you, not for them. Is this correct, O honorable Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Yes, this is correct according to the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them). They say that the ritual of pilgrimage cannot be performed on behalf of two people; the ritual is not performed for more than one person, either for the person himself, or for his father, or for his mother. It is not permissible to perform the talbiyah on behalf of two people. If one does so, it is not valid for them, and the ritual becomes for him.
However, I say that it is recommended for a person to dedicate righteous deeds to himself, such as 'Umrah, Hajj, charity, prayer, reciting the Qur'an, and so on, because a person needs these righteous deeds. A day will come when he will wish that he had even one good deed in his record. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not guide his Ummah to transfer righteous deeds to their fathers and mothers, whether they are alive or dead.
Rather, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) guided them to make du'a' for the dead, where he said (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 1631 So consider his statement: He did not say: "or a righteous son who recites the Qur'an for him, or prays two rak'ahs for him, or performs 'Umrah on his behalf, or performs Hajj on his behalf, or fasts on his behalf." Rather, he said: "or a righteous son who makes du'a' for him," even though the context is about righteous deeds. This indicates that it is better for a person to make du'a' for his parents rather than performing a righteous deed and dedicating it to them. Nevertheless, there is no harm in performing a righteous deed and dedicating it to his parents or one of them, except that Hajj and 'Umrah cannot be performed on behalf of two people.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh Muhammad, and may He magnify your reward for what you have presented to us and to the honorable listening brothers.
The Shaykh : Yes, this is correct according to the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them). They say that the ritual of pilgrimage cannot be performed on behalf of two people; the ritual is not performed for more than one person, either for the person himself, or for his father, or for his mother. It is not permissible to perform the talbiyah on behalf of two people. If one does so, it is not valid for them, and the ritual becomes for him.
However, I say that it is recommended for a person to dedicate righteous deeds to himself, such as 'Umrah, Hajj, charity, prayer, reciting the Qur'an, and so on, because a person needs these righteous deeds. A day will come when he will wish that he had even one good deed in his record. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not guide his Ummah to transfer righteous deeds to their fathers and mothers, whether they are alive or dead.
Rather, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) guided them to make du'a' for the dead, where he said (peace and blessings be upon him):
When a man dies, his acts come to an end, but three, recurring charity, or knowledge (by which people) benefit, or a pious child, who prays for him (for the deceased).
إذا مات الإنسان انقطع عمله إلا من ثلاثة : إلا من صدقة جارية أو علم ينتفع به أو ولد صالح يدعو لهOr a righteous son who makes du'a' for him.
أو ولد صالح يدعوا لهThe questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh Muhammad, and may He magnify your reward for what you have presented to us and to the honorable listening brothers.