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Fatwa CenterMade a vow to perform ‘Umrah; can she delegate someone to perform it on her behalf?
Question
My sister was very sick last year, and she underwent a very serious and challenging surgical procedure. She was experiencing a range of health problems. My mother made a vow that she would perform ‘Umrah if my sister recovered from her illness. She recovered; all praise is due to Allah, the Exalted, but now my mother is ill. She wants to perform ‘Umrah in the coming Ramadan and she does not want to delay it anymore, but she is very sick and cannot perform ‘Umrah. Can someone perform it on her behalf? Is it obligatory on her to re-perform it when she gets better, given that she has a heart condition?
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 
is His Slave and Messenger.
When one makes a vow to Allaah, the Exalted, to do a certain act of obedience to Him, he has to fulfill his vow and do that act. Whoever fails to fulfill his vow should offer expiation like for breaking an oath. Hence, it is incumbent on your mother to perform ‘Umrah if she is physically able to do so. If she is unable to perform it due to an illness that is not chronic, then she should wait until she recovers from her illness and perform it when she gets better. However, if her illness is chronic, then she can delegate someone to perform ‘Umrah on her behalf. It is mandatory on the person to delegate someone to perform the obligatory Hajj on his behalf if he is physically unable to perform it. The same applies to a person who makes a vow to perform ‘Umrah but is physically unable to perform it himself. If you perform it on behalf of your mother, then it will be sufficient for clearing her liability (and her vow will be fulfilled). If she is financially unable to delegate someone to perform ‘Umrah on her behalf and cannot find someone to perform it on her behalf for free, then it is incumbent on her to offer expiation like for breaking an oath.
Allaah Knows best.
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