Women Can Perform Umrah without Mahram!!

Islam is a beautiful religion whose foundations are based on mercy and compassion which advise us to protect the weak and vulnerable. Islam is the first and only religion that declares the rights of women 1400 years ago when women are considered nothing but a piece of flesh. Islam teaches us to honor the women, protect their dignity and reputation and that’s the reason why our beloved Prophet PBUH forbids women to travel alone Even for the virtuous voyage of hajj without the male who can protect them. The great intention behind this prohibition is the safety and protection of women, accompanied by reputable and elder Muslim men. Every woman who intends to perform the sacred obligation of Umrah needs a trusted and blood-related man with whom she is allowed to travel according to the Islamic rules and that man in Islam is known as Mahram.

Who is Mahram?

Mahram or unmarriageable kin is a person with whom women cannot marry otherwise considered haram, as well as the people from whom purdah is not mandatory, are mahram for women. Marriage with mahram is permanently unlawful. The list of mahrams is established in three ways: mahram by kinship (qarabah), foster relationship (radha’a), and relationship through marriage (Shriya). Allah SWT summed up the mahrams in the following verse of the Quran:

“And state to the believer women to diminish of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their beautification except that which (necessarily) appears thereof, and to wrap their headcovers over their chest and not expose their beautification except to their husbands, fathers, father of her husband, their sons, son of their husband, their brothers, son of their brothers, their sister's son, women that which their right hands possess or those male attendants having no physical desire or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they obscure of their beautification. And turn to Allah in penitence, all of you, O believers that you might succeed”.

Mahram is a Muslim male relative with whom a woman is permanently forbidden to marry because of blood relations, ties through marriage, or breastfeeding. Other than a husband, several other relations are also Mahram such as father, brother, son, grandson, grandfather, nephew, uncle, father-in-law, son-in-law, step-father, step-son, and any other male with whom she shared a mother’s milk are Mahram according to the Shari’ah. The stipulation of Mahram is based on the following hadith reported by Abu Huraira that Allah’s Messenger said;

“It is not lawful for a woman who believes in Allah and the Hereafter to undertake a day’s voyage except in the company of Mahram”. For women, Mahram can fall into one of the following categories.
Mahram through Blood: This includes all those relative men with whom she shares blood relation including father, brother, son, grandfather, grandson, nephew, and uncle.
Mahram through Marriage: When a woman gets married along with its blood-related mahrams she gets some new relations which are also mahram for her. These relations include husband, father-in-law, son-in-law, stepfather, and stepson.

Mahram through Fosterage: All the Mahram through blood relations is also considered mahram through foster relation as well. This can be observed with the following hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas, Allah’s Apostle said about the daughter of Hamza R.A.

“I am not lawfully allowed to marry her, as adoptive relations are treated like blood relations. She is the daughter of my foster brother”.

According to Imam Abu Hanifa, a foster mother is someone who has breastfed her child within a certain time period of two and a half years than the child’s foster relative such as foster-father, foster-uncle, foster-grandfather all will be considered mahrams.

Age of the Mahram:

According to the three most authentic schools of thought Hanafi, Maliki, and Shafi, there is no particular restriction about the age of Mahram. He doesn’t have to have reached the age of puberty but a woman should choose the mahram for the journey who must be old enough to provide her sufficient care and protection. Though above mention kids are her mahram they’re unable to protect and provide care for what she needs as a woman during the journey so taking little boys is not recommended at all. On the flip side, the Hanbali School of thought specifies that males must have to reach the age of puberty to be considered a mahram.

Women above the age of 45:

According to the current Saudi rules and regulations, women under the age of 45 are not permitted to travel alone with the mahram. However, if she is over the age of 45, permitted to travel with an organized group of pilgrims without a designated mahram. But she must have to submit the permission letter from her husband or any other mahram who authorize her to travel alone with the group.

There are some particular instances when it is not allowed for women to leave the Saudi Kingdom without a mahram. In the rule of thumb, how her visa is issued. If her visa is issued under the name of her mahram then she is not permitted to leave Saudi Arabia without that mahram. This can usually happen in instances when flights are scheduled differently or she and her mahram are planning to leave for two different destinations. According to Saudi rules, the minimum age for mahram is 17 years to accompany any blood-related women. Keep in mind that the mahram you’re landing within Saudi Arabia should also be there when you leave the country.

Umrah for women who have no Mahram:

If a woman doesn’t have a husband, either widow or divorced neither she has any living mahram relatives does she need to go to perform hajj or Umrah? Though Hajj is the pillar of Islam and mandatory for every Muslim man and woman those women who have the ability physically, mentally, and financially but doesn’t have any mahram do not need to go for hajj and Umrah. There is no sin on her if she doesn’t go. In case she went to Umrah without a mahram it is haram and sinful rather than the blessed journey.

There are other ways she can earn blessings of Allah, if she cannot do one act of worship she is able to do many others and strive hard in those acts of worship that she can easily do. If a person wants to do an act of worship but is unable to do it because of some lawful excuse, he or she will be granted the reward of one who does it. Anas ibn Malik reported that Messenger of Allah when came back from the battle of Tabook and drew closer to Madinah He SAWW said, “In Madinah, there’re some people who, whenever you marched or cross a valley, were with you”.




Why Mahram is required for Umrah?

Umrah is a minor pilgrimage that every Muslim whether men or women wants to perform at least once. But according to Islamic rules and regulations, there are certain things that women must have to follow before the sacred journey, and these rules are made for the betterment of women. Islam is a religion that defines each and every aspect of life to prevent any kind of irregularities in society or in the world but only a few can understand this. Islam gives respect to women and defines what kind of lifestyle a woman has to adopt. According to Islamic values, she needs to stick to certain ethical standards. These rules are made to protect her dignity and respect. They must cover their body part when going outside in order to prevent men from being urged to immoral acts. It is better for a woman to be cautious as Islam gives high status and are not consider women the weaker gender. The restriction is to honor, protect and give special care for women.

Kinds of Mahram:

Mahram by Blood: These include
Your ascendants: parents, grandparents, and great grandparents
Your descendants: children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren
Descendant of your parents: sister, brother, half-sister, half-brother children of your sister and brother.
Your father’s brothers and sisters. Also your father’s half-brothers and sisters, mother’s brothers and sisters are including half-sisters and brothers.

Mahram by Marriage: These include
Husband and wife are mahrams for each other
Ascendants of husband/wife: parents, grandparents, and great grandparents.
Descendants of husband/wife: daughter-in-law, son-in-law, husband/wife of your grandchildren.
Ancestors of your husband/wife: father’s wife, mother’s husband, husband of grandmother, wife of grandfather.
Decedents of your husband: stepdaughter and stepson

Mahram by Breastfeeding: These include
A woman is a mahram for men who breastfed him within the age of 2.5 years
All the children who are breastfed by the woman

Is mahram required for Umrah?

There are two answers from scholars on this issue of whether a woman is allowed to go on Umrah without being accompanied by a mahram.
The woman is not permitted to travel without a mahram: Even she is traveling for a sacred purpose; still, she is not allowed to travel without a mahram. It is the opinion held by scholars from Imam Abu Hanifah and Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal School. Their claim is based on the absolute understanding of many narrations from Allah’s Apostle PBUH. He SAWW said,

“It is not permissible for a woman who believes in Allah and the Day of Judgement to make a journey of one day and night unless she is accompanied by a mahram”.

It is reported by Hazrat Ibn Abbas R.A that Prophet SAWW said,

“No, the male is allowed to be alone with a woman except in the presence of her mahram. No woman is permitted to travel alone except in the company of a mahram”. A man asked Holy Prophet, “I have been enrolled for such and such expedition, and my wife left for the annual pilgrimage. He SAWW said, “Go and perform hajj with your wife”.

The woman is permitted to travel without a mahram: This opinion is held by scholars from Imam Shafi and Imam Malik school of thought by the most contemporary scholars. These scholars are of the view that illah (effective reason) why women were not permitted to travel without a mahram in the past was because of the safety issues and if she fulfills the conditions that permit her to travel safely, the prohibition is lifted. To support this ruling they refer to the Prophet’s saying, narrated by Adiy Ibn Hatem RA.

“And if you live a long life, you will surely see women traveling from Hira till they Tawaf the Kabah, fearing no one except Allah”.

Therefore, a woman is allowed to travel alone if she fulfills the following criteria:
If she has trustworthy companions throughout the journey till her return, she is allowed to travel without her mahram.
If she ensures that her journey is safe and she will not meet any harassment or chaos which can jeopardize her safety, she is allowed to travel alone.

Saudi Rules for women traveling without mahram: 

According to the current Saudi rules and regulations, no women under the age of 45 are allowed to travel alone without mahram. However, if she is over the age of 45 can go to perform alone, without a mahram. But she needs proof (No Objection Certificate) that her mahram allowed her to travel with an organized group or family.

Collection & Prepared by M.Ajmal Khan.