In a significant policy shift by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced a new provision allowing Saudi citizens and legal residents to perform Hajj on behalf of others—without it affecting their eligibility timeline for future pilgrimages. The development, which has drawn widespread attention from across the Muslim world, was officially confirmed through the government’s digital platform, the Nusuk app.
Under this updated regulation, individuals who have already completed their personal obligation of Hajj may now undertake the holy pilgrimage on behalf of someone else—commonly referred to as Hajj Badal—even if five years have not passed since their own last Hajj. This new provision marks a notable departure from previous rules, which restricted individuals from repeating the pilgrimage within a five-year interval unless they were serving as a mahram (guardian) for a female pilgrim.
The initiative primarily benefits those wishing to fulfill the religious duty on behalf of deceased relatives or individuals permanently incapacitated due to chronic illness or advanced age. Until now, many Muslims faced lengthy waiting periods, despite their desire to perform Hajj in honor of loved ones who were unable to undertake the journey themselves.
The Ministry has streamlined the process through the Nusuk application—a centralized digital service platform designed to simplify the pilgrimage journey for both residents and citizens of Saudi Arabia. Interested persons can now log into the app, review the eligibility criteria, and submit their application to perform Hajj Badal. The Ministry has urged all applicants to carefully study the guidelines to ensure compliance with Islamic obligations and state regulations.
It is important to note that the person seeking to perform Hajj Badal must have previously completed their own Hajj, in accordance with Islamic requirements. The individual on whose behalf the pilgrimage is being conducted must either be deceased or medically certified as permanently unable to undertake the journey.
This move by the Saudi authorities is widely viewed as a compassionate gesture aimed at enhancing religious accessibility while upholding the sanctity and structure of the annual pilgrimage. For many Muslims—particularly those with aging parents or relatives who passed away without fulfilling this pillar of Islam—it offers a long-awaited opportunity to perform a deeply spiritual act of service.
As the Kingdom continues to leverage technology to facilitate religious rites and services, the updated Hajj policy reflects a broader commitment to inclusivity and modernization in service to the global Muslim community.
