For Muslims worldwide, making the trip (Hajj or Umrah) for Allah SWT’s sake is a once-in-a-lifetime chance as well as a holy duty under Islam. UK Muslim citizens also perform Umrah by choosing the best Umrah packages despite being distinct pilgrimages, the Hajj and Umrah have several similarities, such as eligibility requirements and rituals.
It is strictly forbidden in Islam for women to go on pilgrimages without a mahram due to the sensitive nature of the ladies and issues of safety. Islamic scriptures state that a woman can only do the Umrah or Hajj with her spouse or any family member she is related to through blood or foster care. This raises the question, “Can a woman go to Hajj without a mahram or not in the world of today?”
What Happens If a Woman Is Not Married?
“I heard the Messenger (PBUH) of Allah SWT say, when he was delivering a sermon, ‘No woman should travel except with a mahram,'” said Ibn’ Abbas (RA), citing Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymin (may Allah have mercy on him) as the reason why this action, performing the Hajj without a mahram, is haram.
“O Messenger of Allah (PBUH), my wife has left for the Hajj, and I have signed up for such-and-such a military campaign,” declared a man as he rose up.
An additional hadith that is part of Al-Mishkat describes a man saying to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), “O Prophet! My spouse has departed for a pilgrimage, but I have been selected to carry out jihad. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) retorted “Go and perform pilgrimage with your wife,”.
- As a result, a woman cannot go on the journey alone without a mahram—a guy to whom she has a biological connection or with whom she is permanently barred from getting married.
- It is claimed that Allah SWT created this legislation to shield women from the harassment and abuse they endure at the hands of those who treat them badly.
- Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) allegedly said, “There will come a day when a woman will travel from Hira to the Kaaba, fearing nothing but God alone,” according to Uday Ibn Hatim.
Things have changed with the time. Given the aforementioned hadith, women are now officially permitted to perform the Hajj and Umrah without a mahram by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, provided that they do so in the company of a reliable group of pilgrims and present an N.O.C. from their mahram.
Can a Female Perform the Umrah with Her Mother?
Before 2019, women weren’t permitted to do the Hajj or Umrah without a mahram. It was mainly due to the strong Islamic prohibition against women traveling alone.
- “Those who wish to perform Hajj will have to register individually,” the ministry tweeted. Along with other women, women may apply without a male guardian.
- Therefore, provided that the lady is over 45 and that she and her mother are traveling in a group, it is permissible for the woman to undertake Umrah with her mother.
- The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah requires the lady to submit the application form and proof of kinship in order to obtain approval.
Numerous such stories say that a lady traveling without a Mahram is forbidden. The phrasing of these narrations varies. Ibn Abbas’s narration in Sahih al-Bukhari says that a lady must not go without a man, but it says not much else. Other descriptions, in Sahih al-Bukhari and somewhere else, detail the length of voyages for which a mahram is necessary – some say 3 days, most two, others one, and some even fewer.
Therefore, the Hanafi Fuqaha is unequivocal in stating that a woman cannot leave more than three days without the companionship of her husband or Mahram. However, she will be permitted to go the distance that is fewer compared to without a mahram because of necessity.
Does a 45-Year-Old Woman Need a Mahram to Perform Umrah?
Women over 45 are now officially permitted to conduct Umrah or Hajj without a male guardian, a practice known in Islam as mahram, according to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia.
Conclusion
Women are only allowed to travel on pilgrimages, and if they do so with a women’s organization by choosing cheap Ramdan Umrah packages they will be granted a visa. As one of the holiest duties in Islam, pilgrimage requires a set of guidelines that Muslims must conform to perform the rite correctly.
One of these regulations is that a woman cannot enter Makkah city unless she has an unmarried male relative, or mahram, with whom she is tied through blood, foster care, or marriage. Every Hajj or Umrah ceremony requires a woman to be accompanying her mahram.
The only other requirement is that they stay away from non-mahram men and go with a group of trustworthy and dependable companions.