The ruling on women going in groups to neighboring villages for occasions

Question:
May Allah reward you with good and do you good. A listener asks and says: Abu 'Ubaydah Muhammad Sudani describes himself and says: I am committed, and so is my wife, praise be to Allah. One of our customs on occasions is that women go in groups, whether within the village or from one village to another. Is it permissible for a man to let his wife go with the women to occasions, or do you advise us of something else? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
If this going from one village to another covers the distance of shortening the prayer, it is not permissible for her to go except with a mahram (a relative one may not marry). The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "It is not permissible for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to travel except with a mahram." So if her going from one village to another counts as travel, a mahram is required, and a group of women does not suffice in place of a mahram. As for her going to occasions, there is a distinction here. If these occasions are free from what is wrong and free from fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), there is nothing wrong with going to them. But if these occasions are the opposite, containing what is wrong, fitnah, and evils, then it is not permissible to go to them.