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Traveling to Saudi Arabia without Mehram

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by ShariahBoard.org

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullah 

I am currently living in Saudi Arab and want to call my mother who is living in India, over here for Hajj. Can she travel alone for this purpose from India to Saudi Arab, where I can receive her at the airport and then we will perform the Hajj together? I cannot find anyone who can bring her here with them or go to India to pick her up. She alhumdulilllah is in good health and wants to perform her Hajj this year. Please let me know what we should do in this situation.

الجواب وباللہ التوفیق

Walaikumassalam Warahmatullah

For younger women, it is impermissible to perform the journey for Hajj without a mehram (unmarriageable kin). In the absence of a mehram, Hajj is not even considered obligatory on such women. Although upon reaching Jeddah, your mother you will start accompanying her, but during the portion of the journey passed without a mehram, your mother will become sinful. However, the Hajj or Umrah performed as a result of such journey will still be considered correct. Therefore, if a mehram could not be arranged this year then it is recommended to postpone the journey until next year and make necessary arrangements where you or some other mehram can accompany your mother.

عن ابن عباس رضي اللّٰہ عنھما قال: قال النبي صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم: لا تسافر المرأۃ إلا مع ذي محرم، ولا یدخل علیھا رجل إلا ومعہا محرم، فقال رجل یا رسول اللّٰہ! إني أرید أن أخرج في جیش کذا وکذا، وامرأتي ترید الحج، فقال: أخرج معہا۔ (صحیح البخاري، کتاب جزاء الصید / باب حج النساء، ۱۸۶۲)

ومع زوج أو محرم قال الشامي: والمحرم من لایجوز لہ مناکحتہا علی التابید بقرابۃ أو رضاع أو صہریۃ۔ (درمختار مع الشامي ۴؍۴۶۴ زکریا، امداد الفتاوی ۲؍۲۰۱)

واللہ اعلم بالصواب

This answer was collected from Shariahboard.org. It was established under the supervision of the eminent faqih of our era, Hazrat Shah Mufti Mohammed Navalur Rahman damat barakatuhum.

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