628. Woman Travelling Without A Mahram

By Asma Bint Shameem

There’s a difference of opinion among the scholars about women traveling without a mahram.

Some of them say that it’s allowed as long as she’s safe and she’s traveling with a group of trustworthy people 

While some of the ulama say that she’s not allowed to travel alone unless there’s an important need. 

That’s because the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said:

“It is unlawful for a woman that believes in Allaah and the Last Day to travel the distance of a single day without a mahram.” (al-Bukhaari 1038, Muslim 1339)

Shaykh ibn ‘Uthaymeen said: 

“This action – (travel without a mahram) – is haraam because of the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Abbaas radhi Allaahu anhu who said: 

I heard the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam say, when he was delivering a sermon, 

“No woman should travel except with a mahram.” 

A man stood up and said, “O Messenger of Allaah, my wife has set out for Hajj, and I have signed up for such-and-such a military campaign.” 

The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said: 

“Go and do Hajj with your wife.” 

(al-Bukhaari, Muslim)

So it is not permissible for a woman to travel without a mahram. 

A mahram is a man whom she is forever forbidden to marry because of blood ties or for a permissible reason. 

This is also subject to the condition that he be an adult of sound mind. 

A minor child cannot be a mahram, and neither can one who is not of sound mind. 

The reason for a mahram’s presence being required is so that he can look after her and protect her, so that she will not be bothered by those who do not fear Allaah and do not show mercy to the slaves of Allaah. 

It makes no difference whether there are other women with her or not, or whether she is safe or not. 

Even if she goes with women from her own family and she is extremely safe, it is not permissible for her to travel without a mahram, because when the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam commanded that man to go and perform Hajj with his wife, he did not ask whether there were other women with her or not, or whether she was safe or not. 

The fact that he did not ask about that indicates that it makes no difference. 

This is the correct view.”

(Daleel Al-Akhta’ Allati Yaqa’a Fiha Al-Haaj Wa’l-Mu’tamir)

However if there’s a NEED, or special circumstances, then the ulama say a woman may be allowed to travel by herself. 

Shaikh Ibn Jibreen said:

“ There is nothing wrong with that if it is too difficult for the mahram, such as her husband or father, if the woman has to travel and the mahram cannot accompany her. 

In that case there is nothing to prevent that on condition that the first mahram takes her to the airport and does not leave her until she boards the plane, and he contacts the country to which she is headed and makes sure that her mahrams there will meet her in the airport, and he tells them the time of arrival and the flight number. 

That is because cases of necessity have their own rulings. And Allah knows best.”

(Fataawa Ibn Jibreen)

And Allaah knows best