By Asma Bint Shameem
There’s a difference of opinion among the scholars about women going to Hajj/umrah on their own without a mahram.
And although, the government of Saudi Arabia allows a woman over 45 years of age to travel to Hajj or umrah with a group of trustworthy men and women; but not all the ulama agree about this issue.
Some allowed that but some scholars are more *strict* and disallowed that.
The stricter ulama say that having a mahram is PART of the conditions that will make hajj obligatory on a woman.
So just like financial ability and health are conditions for the obligation of hajj, similarly hajj only becomes obligatory on a woman IF she has a mahram.
If she doesn’t have a mahram, then hajj is not fardh on her, even though she may be financially and physically able.
Shaykh ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:
“This action – Hajj 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)
Personally, I would also encourage women to go for umrah/Hajj ONLY if they have a mahram with them.
Besides the difference of opinion from the Sharee’ah point of view, I see women who go for Umrah or hajj alone every year.
And every year, I see the trouble they have to go through and how they suffer.
Saudi Arabia is very much ‘a man’s world’ and it’s extremely difficult for a woman to manage by herself if even a little goes out of the ordinary.
Sometimes their luggage gets lost, or they themselves get lost or they get sick or hurt themselves etc
And if they don’t have a mahram with them, it becomes extremely difficult for them to manage, to communicate or do anything to solve their issue.
That’s my personal opinion and advice.
Of course the final decision is up to the individual sister.
And Allaah knows best
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