May Hajj be performed on behalf of the deceased?
Short answer
Hajj may be performed on behalf of the deceased, and it suffices if the deputy has performed Hajj for himself; and if Hajj was obligatory on the deceased and he was able in his lifetime but did not perform it, it is taken from his estate.
Evidence and explanation
The Shaykh explained that Hajj on behalf of the deceased is prescribed, and that for one who died when Hajj was obligatory on him and he was able, it is taken from his estate; and that some of his children or relatives may perform Hajj for him.
Scholar referenced
This editorial summary is based on the original source linked below and is not presented as a verbatim quotation from the scholar.
From the text of the answer (Arabic, with an English translation)
Original answer — Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn Baz
حكم الحج عن الميت وقراءة القرآن له — فتوى ١٥٧١٣- Question
«جزاكم الله خيرًا سماحة الشيخ، يقول السائل في ثاني أسئلته: والدي متوفى منذ أربع سنوات، ولكنه لم يحج، ولم يوص بالحج عنه؛ وذلك لأنه مات موتًا مفاجئًا، فما واجبنا، هل نحج عنه؟ علمًا بأنه لم يوصينا بذلك، وهل يجوز أن نقرأ له القرآن، وندفع مالًا على ذلك؟»
English translation (unreviewed): May Allah reward you, your eminence. The questioner says in his second question: My father died four years ago, but he had not performed Hajj and did not leave a will for Hajj to be performed on his behalf, because he died suddenly. What is our duty, do we perform Hajj for him? Knowing that he did not instruct us to, and is it permissible to recite the Qur'an for him and pay money for that?
- From the text of the answer
«إذا كان لم يحج، وخلف تركة؛ وجب أن يحج عنه من التركة إذا كان يستطيع الحج في حياته، ولكن تساهل وجب أن يخرج من ماله ما يحج به عنه، وإن حج عنه بعض أولاده كفى، أما إذا كان فقيرًا، مات ما يستطيع الحج، فإن أولاده إذا حجوا عنه مأجورون، لهم أجر إذا حج عنه بعض أولاده، أو إن حجت عنه زوجته، أو بعض أقاربه مأجورون، أما إذا كان لا، يستطيع الحج، عنده قدرة ولكن تساهل؛ فإنه يجب أن يخرج من ماله حجة، يعطاها الثقة حتى يحج بها عنه، وإن حج عنه بعض أولاده الطيبين كفى.»
English translation (unreviewed): If he had not performed Hajj and left an estate, Hajj must be performed on his behalf from the estate if he was able to perform Hajj in his lifetime but was negligent; money must be taken from his estate to perform Hajj for him, and if some of his children perform Hajj for him it suffices. But if he was poor and died unable to perform Hajj, then if his children perform Hajj for him they are rewarded; they have a reward if some of his children perform Hajj for him, or if his wife performs Hajj for him, or some relatives, they are rewarded. But if he was able to perform Hajj and had the means but was negligent, a Hajj must be taken from his money and given to a trustworthy person to perform Hajj for him; and if some of his good children perform Hajj for him, it suffices.
The Arabic excerpts matched the original page word for word by an automated check and have not had human scholarly review. The English translations are unreviewed translations made for this site; they are not an approved Shari‘ah translation. Rely on the Arabic original.
Source
Ruling on Hajj on behalf of the deceased and reciting the Qur'an for him
Title of the original page (Arabic): حكم الحج عن الميت وقراءة القرآن له
Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn Baz, may Allah have mercy on him