Answer
Wa `alaykum As-Salamu waRahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
According to some scholars, a woman may travel to Hajj without a mahram if she is accompanied by trustworthy women, despite a hadith discouraging solo travel.
Answering your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a Senior Lecturer and an Islamic Scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:
What Did the Prophet Say About Women Traveling Alone?
The Prophet (peace be on him) said: โIt is not permitted for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to travel a distance involving one whole day and night without the escort of a mahram.โ (Muslim)
The Wisdom Behind the Mahram Requirement
All the laws of Islam are based on infinite wisdom. The wisdom and purpose of the above statement of the Prophet (peace be on him) are undoubtedly intended to ensure the protection and security of women.
Scholarly Opinions on Women Traveling in Groups
Based on their understanding of the above wisdom, a number of scholars and jurists have ruled that a woman can travel in the company of reliable women.
This is the opinion of great Imams such as Malik and Ash-Shafi`i and has also been authenticated by later scholars like Ibn Taymiyyah.
Practice of the Prophetโs Wives and the Companions
The above view has also been supported by the practice of the wives of the Prophet (peace on him). During the time of the Caliph Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), he allowed them to go for Hajj in a group under the leadership of eminent companions such as Uthman ibn Affan and Abd al-Rahama ibn `Awf (may Allah be pleased with them).
As the above journey was undertaken with the permission of `Umar and the knowledge of the companions of the Prophet (peace be on him) and since no one raised any objection against it, it amounts to almost a consensus of the companions.
More clarification can be found in these fatwas:
- Can a Woman Make Hajj Without Mahram After Menopause?
- Can Women Perform Hajj or Umrah without Mahram?
- Is Hajj Invalidated by Lying About Mahram Relation?
- Women Performing Hajj: Allowed Without Husbandโs Permission?
- Is Your Son In Law Your Mahram?
- Can a Woman Pray behind a Non-Mahram?
Almighty Allah knows best.
Editorโs note: This fatwa is from Ask the Scholarโs archive and was originally published at an earlier date.