Is it better to give money to someone to perform Hajj on behalf of one's father or mother, or to give it to someone who has not yet performed Hajj so that he may perform it?

The questioner : Some people, O Shaykh, pay a sum of money on behalf of a deceased person and say, "This amount is for the Hajj of, for example, my father or my mother or my uncle, or such." What is the ruling on this, and what is the better option?

The Shaykh : The better option is not to do it. The best is not to do it. The money this man gives for someone to perform Hajj on behalf of his father or mother, he should give it to a person who has not yet fulfilled the obligatory duty, so that he may fulfill the obligatory duty. This is far better for him, because if he gives this money to a person who has not fulfilled the obligatory duty, he will receive a reward like that of the one who fulfilled the obligatory duty. Do you understand?

The questioner : If the deceased did not fulfill the obligatory duty, for example.

The Shaykh : If he did not fulfill the obligatory duty, there is no harm in fulfilling the obligatory duty on his behalf. Yes.