Q: Please confirm if my wife can perform UMRA with her friends who are travelling with their Mehrams in a group.
A:According to the Hanafi Mazhab, a woman can only travel on a journey of more than 78 kms (be this for Umrah, Hajj or otherwise) provided she is accompanied by her husband or a Mahram relative. Mahrams refer those males that are perpetually Haraam for her to marry, like her father, grandfather, brothers of her father and mother, sons, grandsons, her brothers, sons of her brothers and sisters.
Hence if the woman concerned does not have a Mahram then she cannot travel in this way i.e. with her friends and their Mahrams.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best
Was Salaam
Shafiq Jakhura (Mufti) M.D. Mangera (Mufti)
Fatwa Dept. Fatwa Dept.