The ruling on appointing an unrighteous person

Question: A person gave money to someone to perform Hajj on behalf of his mother, believing him to be trustworthy, but it later became clear that this person was engaged in unrighteous conduct. What is the ruling?

Answer: One who intends to appoint someone should search for a candidate and verify his trustworthiness, uprightness, and righteousness. If the Hajj is obligatory and a duty, he must compensate for it by performing another Hajj. If the Hajj was a bequest from someone who instructed that it be performed, and he placed it in the hands of an untrustworthy person, the most cautious course for him is to replace it with another; because he did not exert effort or take care in the matter, but rather was negligent. However, if he was a volunteer seeking reward, with no bequest from anyone, and he only intended to volunteer for the sake of reward, then he owes nothing. If he wishes to perform another Hajj, there is nothing wrong with that.