What to say when performing ‘Umrah on behalf of others
Fatwa No: 208078

Question

I would like to perform ‘Umrah on behalf of a woman who is a relative of mine. I know her first name only as well as the kinship relation between us. Is it permissible to mention only her first name as well as the kinship relation during Talbiyyah? Is it a condition to mention her full name?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

If you intend to perform ‘Umrah on behalf of your female relative, then it is enough for you to intend that within yourself without mentioning her name at all. But it is better to mention her first name, to say, "Labbayka ‘an so-and-so (Here I am on behalf of so and so)."

In his collection of Fataawa, Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen was asked about what one should say when assuming Ihram (ritual state of consecration) for performing Hajj on behalf of someone. He was also asked about what one should say on the Day of ‘Arafah (the 9th day of Thul-Hijjah), the Day of Nahr (the 10th day of Thul-Hijjah), when throwing the pebbles, and during other rituals. He answered:

He should say, "Labbayka ‘an so and so (Here I am on behalf of so and so)." The evidence for this is the Hadeeth of Ibn ‘Abbas according to which the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, heard a man say, "Labbayka (Here I am) on behalf of Shubrumah" [i.e., he was performing Hajj on behalf of Shubrumah]. He (the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) asked, "Who is Shubrumah?" The man replied, "He is a brother (or a relative) of mine." The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, asked, "Have you performed Hajj for yourself?" The man said, "No." Then the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, told him, "Perform Hajj for yourself first, then perform Hajj on behalf of Shubrumah."

So you should say, "Labbayka ‘an (and mention the person's name)." If you do not remember his name, then it is enough to say, "Here I am on behalf of the one who delegated me to perform Hajj," or any similar statement. Indeed, Allaah Knows who this person is. You are not required to repeat the same during Tawaaf (circumambulation), Sa‘y (going back and forth between Mount Safa and Mount Marwah), standing at ‘Arafah, spending the night at Muzdalifah, throwing the pebbles, and so on. It is enough for you to intend it at the beginning of Ihram for Hajj or ‘Umrah.

Thus, it is not conditioned to mention the full name of your female relative, nor the kinship relation between her and you. But you are blameless for mentioning all this.

Allaah Knows best.

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