Intending to perform Hajj: Is a mahram (a relative one may not marry) required, and what should one do if a mahram is not found?

Question:
May Allah reward you with good and do you good. You are also asking and saying: I intended to perform Hajj. Is it permissible for me to go alone, or is the presence of a mahram required? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
The presence of a mahram is required for Hajj and for other travels, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): It is not permissible for a woman to travel for two days except with a mahram.
When a man wanted to go on a military expedition during the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and he informed the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that his wife had gone out for a need, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: Go back and perform Hajj with your wife. So he sent him back from the expedition to perform Hajj with his wife. This indicates that the presence of a mahram is a condition for a woman when Hajj becomes obligatory upon her. If she is able to perform Hajj financially and physically, but she does not have a mahram, she should not perform Hajj directly; rather, she should postpone it until she finds a mahram. If she is hopeless of finding a mahram, she should appoint someone to perform Hajj on her behalf.