The Ruling on a Muslim Woman Traveling to Muslim Countries for Study

The questioner:
An American woman whom Allah guided to Islam, whose parents are Christians, wants to go to Mauritania to learn the Shari'ah, the Qur'an, and Arabic. Her uncle will accompany her as a mahram (a relative one may not marry), but she will remain there alone with some Muslim women. Is that permissible for her? Knowing that she will return to her country later.

The Shaykh:
Repeat the question.

The questioner:
This questioner. And coercion. This questioner, may Allah preserve you, is from America. An American woman whom Allah guided to Islam, whose parents are Christians, wants to go to Mauritania to learn the Shari'ah, the Qur'an, and Arabic. Her uncle will accompany her as a mahram, but she will remain there alone with some Muslim women. Is that permissible for her? Knowing that she will return to her country later with the mahram?

The Shaykh:
No, no. If she has a mahram with her during the journey, both going and returning, and she stays with the Muslims in the country to learn, there is no harm. Residing in Muslim countries does not require a mahram for her; the mahram is only for the journey. However, on the condition that she does not seclude herself with a man, and likewise, she does not mix with men. Also, she should observe the hijab, stay away from what is easy [to fall into], and adhere to the deeds of Islam.