The ruling on a son performing Hajj on behalf of his mother, either by himself or by appointing another

This is a message received by the program from listener Husayn ibn Ali al-Samarrai from Mosul, Iraq. He says in his message: My mother passed away before she could perform the obligatory Hajj. Am I obligated to perform Hajj on her behalf now that Allah has enabled me to perform this obligation for myself? And is it permissible for me to appoint another person to perform Hajj on behalf of my mother? I ask you to inform me of the ruling in Islamic law regarding performing Hajj on behalf of another person in general. Please inform us, may Allah reward you.
Answer: If your mother was able to perform Hajj during her lifetime because she had wealth, then you should appoint a trustworthy person of good character to perform Hajj on her behalf, or you should perform it on her behalf yourself, and that is better because you are her son and the closest person to her. So if you perform it on her behalf yourself, that is better if it is feasible for you. And if you perform it on her behalf through some trustworthy, good people, there is no harm. This is obligatory if she was able to perform it during her lifetime. The obligation is that Hajj be performed on her behalf from her wealth, or from your own wealth without looking at her wealth, as a form of kindness to her and dutifulness toward her. So you have a choice: if you wish, you may spend from her wealth, and if you wish, you may perform Hajj on her behalf yourself or from your wealth through a trustworthy, good person known for his religion, goodness, and trustworthiness.
Performing Hajj on behalf of another person is prescribed. Is it obligatory if the other person died without having performed Hajj while he was able to do so? It becomes obligatory that Hajj be performed on his behalf from his wealth. But if the obligation of Hajj did not fall upon him because he was poor, then if someone performs Hajj on his behalf, there is no harm. And if a person performs Hajj on behalf of his father or mother who are unable to do so, this is prescribed and good, and it is a form of dutifulness. But it is not obligatory for you to perform Hajj on behalf of your father or your mother, unless they were able to perform Hajj during their lifetimes but neglected it. In that case, you must spend from their wealth for a trustworthy, good person to perform Hajj on their behalf, or you must perform it on their behalf yourself. But if they had already performed Hajj, or if they were unable to perform Hajj, then it is prescribed for you to perform Hajj on their behalf, but it is not obligatory upon you; rather, this is a form of dutifulness toward them. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.