Woman Performing Hajj or ʿUmrah Without a Mahram – Quran, Hadith, Sayings of the Companions, Views of the Scholars, and Summary
Compiled by: Qari Usama bin Abdus Salam
Although the term “maḥram” is not explicitly mentioned in the Qur’an in this context, there are numerous foundational verses regarding a woman's travel and modesty which provide the principal basis for this issue.
Relevant Verse:
﴿وَقَرْنَ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ﴾
(Surah al-Aḥzāb: 33)
Translation: “And remain in your homes with dignity.”
This verse, in general, instructs women to remain in their homes. Islamic Sharīʿah has limited a woman’s going out to only certain specific and necessary occasions, let alone long and potentially dangerous journeys.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ explicitly declared a woman’s travel without a maḥram to be prohibited. This includes essential acts of worship such as obligatory Ḥajj and ʿUmrah.
Ḥadīth 1:
Narrated by Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"A woman must not travel except with a maḥram."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1862, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1341)
An Incident:
A companion said:
“My wife has departed for Ḥajj, while I have been enlisted for such-and-such expedition.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Go and perform Ḥajj with your wife.”
This clearly indicates that the Noble Prophet ﷺ made the presence of a maḥram a necessary condition, even for the obligatory Ḥajj.
Ḥadīth 2:
Narrated by Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"It is not permissible for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to travel a distance of a day and a night except in the company of a maḥram.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1038, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1339)
Consensus Statement – Imām Ibn al-Mundhir رحمه الله:
He said:
"Everyone whose opinion we are aware of among the people of knowledge has consensus that a woman is not permitted to travel without a maḥram, except what has been reported from some of the Salaf concerning the obligatory Ḥajj.”
(Al-Ijmāʿ by Ibn al-Mundhir, p. 53)
Practice of a Companion – Statement of ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه:
ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه, on one occasion, prohibited women from traveling for Ḥajj without maḥram and arranged maḥram companions for them.
(Al-Sunan al-Kubrā by al-Bayhaqī: 4/347)
Title in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī:
“Chapter: A Woman's Travel with a Maḥram”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book of Ḥajj, Ḥadīth 1862)
Under this chapter, Imām Bukhārī رحمه الله included the narration where the Prophet ﷺ instructed a companion to perform Ḥajj with his wife instead of participating in battle.
Statement of Imām Nawawī رحمه الله:
"There is consensus that it is not permissible for a woman to travel without a maḥram or husband, except what some have exempted in the case of obligatory Ḥajj. However, the majority require a maḥram unconditionally.”
(Sharḥ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 9/103)
Ḥanafīs, Mālikīs, Ḥanbalīs:
According to these three schools, a woman’s travel for Ḥajj or ʿUmrah without a maḥram is absolutely impermissible, whether it is obligatory or supererogatory.
Shāfiʿīs:
Some Shāfiʿī scholars permitted travel for obligatory Ḥajj in a trustworthy group of women without a maḥram.
However, the majority of scholars disagree with this opinion.
✔ The Qur’an advises women to remain in their homes.
✔ Authentic Aḥādīth clearly declare travel without a maḥram for a woman as prohibited—even obligatory Ḥajj is not exempted.
✔ Sayings and practices of the Companions also support this position.
✔ The Imāms and scholars of Ḥadīth have dedicated chapters to this issue, highlighting its prohibition.
✔ The consensus of the majority of jurists is that it is entirely impermissible for a woman to perform Ḥajj or ʿUmrah without a maḥram.
Therefore,
A woman who travels for Ḥajj or ʿUmrah without a maḥram is openly violating the clear command of Sharīʿah.
She is not performing an obligation, but rather committing a sinful act.
Hoping for reward in such an act is unfounded, for such a deed falls into the category of disobedience
Compiled by: Qari Usama bin Abdus Salam
① In the Light of the Noble Qur’an
Although the term “maḥram” is not explicitly mentioned in the Qur’an in this context, there are numerous foundational verses regarding a woman's travel and modesty which provide the principal basis for this issue.
Relevant Verse:
﴿وَقَرْنَ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ﴾
(Surah al-Aḥzāb: 33)
Translation: “And remain in your homes with dignity.”
This verse, in general, instructs women to remain in their homes. Islamic Sharīʿah has limited a woman’s going out to only certain specific and necessary occasions, let alone long and potentially dangerous journeys.
② In the Light of Authentic Aḥādīth
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ explicitly declared a woman’s travel without a maḥram to be prohibited. This includes essential acts of worship such as obligatory Ḥajj and ʿUmrah.
Ḥadīth 1:
Narrated by Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"A woman must not travel except with a maḥram."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1862, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1341)
An Incident:
A companion said:
“My wife has departed for Ḥajj, while I have been enlisted for such-and-such expedition.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Go and perform Ḥajj with your wife.”
This clearly indicates that the Noble Prophet ﷺ made the presence of a maḥram a necessary condition, even for the obligatory Ḥajj.
Ḥadīth 2:
Narrated by Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"It is not permissible for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to travel a distance of a day and a night except in the company of a maḥram.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1038, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1339)
③ In the Light of the Sayings of the Companions (Āthār al-Ṣaḥābah)
Consensus Statement – Imām Ibn al-Mundhir رحمه الله:
He said:
"Everyone whose opinion we are aware of among the people of knowledge has consensus that a woman is not permitted to travel without a maḥram, except what has been reported from some of the Salaf concerning the obligatory Ḥajj.”
(Al-Ijmāʿ by Ibn al-Mundhir, p. 53)
Practice of a Companion – Statement of ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه:
ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه, on one occasion, prohibited women from traveling for Ḥajj without maḥram and arranged maḥram companions for them.
(Al-Sunan al-Kubrā by al-Bayhaqī: 4/347)
④ Chapters and Reasoning of the Scholars of Ḥadīth
Title in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī:
“Chapter: A Woman's Travel with a Maḥram”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book of Ḥajj, Ḥadīth 1862)
Under this chapter, Imām Bukhārī رحمه الله included the narration where the Prophet ﷺ instructed a companion to perform Ḥajj with his wife instead of participating in battle.
Statement of Imām Nawawī رحمه الله:
"There is consensus that it is not permissible for a woman to travel without a maḥram or husband, except what some have exempted in the case of obligatory Ḥajj. However, the majority require a maḥram unconditionally.”
(Sharḥ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 9/103)
⑤ View of the Juristic Schools (Briefly)
Ḥanafīs, Mālikīs, Ḥanbalīs:
According to these three schools, a woman’s travel for Ḥajj or ʿUmrah without a maḥram is absolutely impermissible, whether it is obligatory or supererogatory.
Shāfiʿīs:
Some Shāfiʿī scholars permitted travel for obligatory Ḥajj in a trustworthy group of women without a maḥram.
However, the majority of scholars disagree with this opinion.
⑥ Summary and Conclusion
✔ The Qur’an advises women to remain in their homes.
✔ Authentic Aḥādīth clearly declare travel without a maḥram for a woman as prohibited—even obligatory Ḥajj is not exempted.
✔ Sayings and practices of the Companions also support this position.
✔ The Imāms and scholars of Ḥadīth have dedicated chapters to this issue, highlighting its prohibition.
✔ The consensus of the majority of jurists is that it is entirely impermissible for a woman to perform Ḥajj or ʿUmrah without a maḥram.
❖ Final Verdict:
Therefore,
A woman who travels for Ḥajj or ʿUmrah without a maḥram is openly violating the clear command of Sharīʿah.
She is not performing an obligation, but rather committing a sinful act.
Hoping for reward in such an act is unfounded, for such a deed falls into the category of disobedience
