Can someone make Hajj for himself and Hajj for a deceased family member at the same time? Or must the person perform two pilgrimages?

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

It is impermissible for the person to perform Hajj for himself and at the same time perform it on behalf of someone else as intention is a pre-condition to the validity of Hajj. The Prophet said: “Indeed, actions are judged according to their intentions, and every person will get the reward of what he has intended.”

The act of worship that is meant to be done individually cannot be done in association with someone else. So, one pilgrimage cannot be for one person and for another person at the same time. Again, if a person could perform Hajj on behalf of two people at the same time, the Prophet would not have told the man who was pronouncing Talbiyah (saying Labbayka Hajj for my brother …) on behalf of his brother, to perform Hajj first for himself, then at another occasion to perform it on behalf of his brother.

Moreover, it is known that Prophet Muhammad is the Messenger of blessing, clemency and benevolence. So, he hated to put on the Muslims a burden they cannot bear. He always chose between any two things the least difficult as long as it is not a sin. The Hadeeth is as follows:

“Labbayk on behalf of Shubrumah. He asked: 'Who is Shubrumah?' He replied: 'A brother or relative of mine'. He (the Prophet) asked: 'Have you performed Hajj on your own behalf?' He said: 'No'. Then, he said to him: 'Perform Hajj on your own behalf, then perform it on behalf of Shubrumah.” [Abu Daawood and Ibn Majah]

This Hadeeth proves that combining the intention of performing Hajj on behalf of two persons in one single Hajj is not permitted.

Finally, you should know that the Muslim has to perform Hajj on behalf of himself first, then if he wants to perform Hajj on behalf of someone else at another occasion, then he can do so.

Allah knows best.