Q.1. Is it possible to perform Umrah on behalf of one’s mother when she is alive? Or on behalf of one’s deceased father?
A.1. If the living person is able to perform the Umrah or the pilgrimage, they must perform their duty themselves. If they are unable, because of ill health, they may ask someone else to do it for them, paying all the expenses of that person. If they cannot afford to pay for the journey, they are not required to do these duties.
It is not right to offer it on their behalf. You will be much more dutiful to your mother if you send her an air ticket so that she could come and do the duty herself. On behalf of your deceased father, you can certainly do the pilgrimage or the Umrah, provided you have already done your obligatory pilgrimage.
Q.2. Is it possible to read the Qur’an for deceased parents?
A.2. Yes, it is perfectly possible to read the Qur’an, or any part of it, and pray to God to credit the reward of your recitation to your deceased parents, or other deceased people.
Q.3. In a four-rak’ah Sunnah prayer, can we recite more than surah Al-Fatihah in the third or fourth rak’ah?
A.3. Yes. There is no limit to what you can read, but Surah Al-Fatihah is enough.
