Hajj Badal Niyat: How to Perform Hajj Badal for Others?

Someone you love passed away before they could perform Hajj. Or they wanted to go, but their body gave out before they could make it. Now you want to stand in Arafat for them. That is Hajj Badal. Before you step into Ihram, the niyat has to be correct. The wrong intention means the Hajj does not reach them.

This post covers what Hajj Badal niyat means, the exact Arabic words, and how to make the niyat for your father, mother, or anyone else who could not perform Hajj themselves.

What Is Hajj Badal?

Badal means substitute. Hajj Badal refers to doing the Hajj on another person's behalf. You go. You do all the rituals. But the reward is for the person you made the niyat for.

Hajj Badal is proven from authentic hadith. It was approved by the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. A woman came and asked if she could perform Hajj for her elderly father who could not ride. He said yes. Scholars across all four major schools of jurisprudence accept Hajj Badal as valid.

Who Can Perform Hajj Badal?

You must have already performed your own Fardh Hajj. Your own obligation comes first. You cannot do Hajj Badal before that. This is a condition most scholars agree on without exception.

Additionally, you need to be physically fit to do the Hajj. You must be able to perform each ritual on your own. Someone who cannot complete Hajj due to illness cannot perform Hajj Badal for another person either.

Hajj Badal Niyat Meaning

Niyat means intention. For Hajj Badal, the niyat is made at the Miqat before entering Ihram. You say it out loud with the person's name and hold it firmly in your heart that this entire Hajj is for them, not for yourself.

The niyat is what makes this Hajj Badal instead of a regular Hajj. Everything you do from the Miqat to the final Tawaf is done on their behalf. Every dua, every step of Sa'i, every stone thrown at Mina; it all goes to the person you named.

How to Make Niyyah for Hajj Badal?

At the Miqat, put on your Ihram. Then say the niyat out loud before starting Talbiyah. Say the name of the person you are performing Hajj for.

The niyat in Arabic:

Labbayk Allahumma Hajjan an [name of person]

Meaning: O Allah, I respond to You with the intention of Hajj on behalf of [name].

Say the name clearly. Then start the Talbiyah and proceed with the Hajj exactly as you would for yourself.

Niyat Hajj Badal in Arabic

لَبَّيْكَ اَللَّهُمَّ حَجّاً عَنْ [اسم الشخص]

Transliteration: Labbayk Allahumma Hajjan an [name]

Say this at the Miqat. Say it out loud. Keep the person's name and face in your heart before you say it.

Hajj Badal Niyat for Deceased Father

The niyat for your deceased father:

Labbayk Allahumma Hajjan an [father's name]

Say his name. If his name was Yusuf, say: Labbayk Allahumma Hajjan an Yusuf.

Carry him in your heart through every moment of the Hajj. Arafat is for him. Muzdalifah is for him. Every stone you throw is thrown on his behalf.

Niyat Hajj Badal for Deceased Mother

The niyat for your deceased mother:

Labbayk Allahumma Hajjan an [mother's name]

Say her name clearly. If you do not know her exact full name, say your mother with her in your heart. Allah knows who you mean.

Hajj Badal Niyat for Someone Else

The formula is the same for anyone. A grandparent, a sibling, a friend.

Labbayk Allahumma Hajjan an [person's name]

One Hajj, one niyat, one person. The name is said in the place where the brackets are.

How to Perform Hajj Badal Step by Step?

Enter Ihram at the Miqat

Wear your Ihram at the correct Miqat for the direction you are coming from. Make the niyat for Hajj Badal. Say the name. Begin Talbiyah.

Perform All Hajj Rituals

Complete every ritual of Hajj as you would for yourself. Tawaf al-Qudum on arrival, staying at Mina on the 8th of Dhul Hijjah, standing at Arafat on the 9th, spending the night at Muzdalifah, throwing stones at Mina, the Qurbani, shaving or cutting hair, Tawaf al-Ifadah, and Sa'i.

Nothing Is Skipped

Hajj Badal requires the full Hajj. Not a shortened version. Every wajib and every rukn must be completed for the Hajj to be valid on behalf of the other person.

Hajj Badal Dua

After completing the Hajj, make a personal dua for the person. Ask Allah to accept this Hajj on their behalf. Ask for their sins to be forgiven. Ask for their place in Jannah to be raised.

This dua has no fixed words. Whatever comes from your heart is what matters. Many people cry at this point, especially when it is a parent. That is a sign of sincerity, not weakness.

Important Points

One Hajj will be considered for one person only. You cannot make one Hajj count for two people at the same time. If you want to do Hajj Badal for both parents, you need two separate Hajj journeys.

Hajj Badal can be performed for a lady by a man. It can be done for a man by a woman also. There is no restriction on this. The niyat is what matters.

Conclusion

Giving someone a gift after they are gone is known as Hajj Badal. Your legs carry you around the Kaaba, but the reward travels to them. Your hands throw the stones, but their record receives the good deeds.

Get the niyat right at the Miqat. Say their name. Perform the full Hajj with them in your heart. Make dua when it is complete. May Allah accept every Hajj Badal and unite us with our loved ones in Jannah. Ameen.

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