Written by: Shaykh Hafiz Abdul Sattar Al-Hammad (حفظ اللہ)
Arabic Text:
وَلَا تُسَافِرَنَّ امْرَأَةٌ إِلَّا وَمَعَهَا مَحْرَمٌ
“A woman should not travel without a Mahram (male guardian).”
[Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Jihad wa’l-Siyar: 3006]
Arabic Text:
وَلَا تُسَافِرَنَّ امْرَأَةٌ إِلَّا وَمَعَهَا مَحْرَمٌ
“A woman should not travel without a Mahram (male guardian).”
[Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Jihad wa’l-Siyar: 3006]
Key Points:
- Background of the Hadith:
- During the time of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), a man informed him that he had enrolled in a specific battle while his wife intended to perform Hajj. The Prophet (ﷺ) instructed him:
“Leave the battle and accompany your wife for Hajj.”
- During the time of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), a man informed him that he had enrolled in a specific battle while his wife intended to perform Hajj. The Prophet (ﷺ) instructed him:
- Importance of a Mahram During Travel:
- Islam mandates the presence of a Mahram for a woman during travel to ensure her safety, dignity, and protection from harm.
- The Mahram is also there to assist her in case of any difficulties or emergencies during the journey.
- Prohibition of Traveling Without a Mahram:
- It is not permissible for a woman to travel without a Mahram, even for Hajj.
- This ruling applies to women of all ages and in all circumstances.
- Conditions for a Mahram:
- Scholars have outlined the following conditions for a man to qualify as a Mahram:➊ He must be a male.
➋ He must be a Muslim.
➌ He must be mature (baligh).
➍ He must be sane (aql).
➎ He must be permanently forbidden for the woman to marry. Examples include:
- Father, brother, son, uncle (paternal or maternal), or father-in-law.
- Relatives Who Cannot Be a Mahram:
- Relatives with whom marriage is temporarily forbidden, such as a sister’s husband (brother-in-law), cannot serve as a Mahram.
- Likewise, cousins, nephews, or brothers-in-law are not considered Mahrams.
- Scholars have outlined the following conditions for a man to qualify as a Mahram:➊ He must be a male.
- Additional Condition for Women Performing Hajj:
- In addition to the general conditions for the obligation of Hajj, it is a specific requirement for women to have a Mahram accompany them for this sacred journey, irrespective of their age or circumstances.