The Ruling on a Woman Traveling Without a Mahram
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What is the ruling on a woman traveling from one city to another without a mahram (a relative one may not marry) in order to seek knowledge?
It is not permissible for a woman to travel without a mahram, whether for knowledge, Hajj, 'Umrah, visiting, or anything else.Due to the generality of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): (No woman should travel except with a mahram) However, some people may think that this is not travel, but rather a short trip. For example, some women nowadays go from their town to a nearby town to learn or to teach, and they return on the same day. This is not considered travel. Therefore, if a woman goes from Unaizah to Buraydah to learn or teach, accompanied by other women, and they return to their homes after the lesson ends, this is not travel, so it is permissible for the woman to go and return. However, it is not permissible for her to be alone with the driver if he is not a mahram to her.
Even on an airplane, it is not permissible for her to travel.We say: First, the mahram who is in the city from which she flew, if he takes her to the waiting area, he returns, and she remains alone with men. Then, even if he were to take her until she boards the plane, the plane may take off at its scheduled time, or it may be delayed due to a technical malfunction, weather, or other reasons. Then, once she is on the plane, there may be a reason preventing her from landing at the airport she intended, such as bad weather, as they say, or a technical malfunction, such as the landing gear refusing to lower, or other causes. So she remains, going to another country. Then, even if she is saved from this and lands at the airport she wants, her second mahram who is to receive her may arrive at the scheduled time, or he may not arrive. He may fall asleep, or he may fall ill. He may be prevented by traffic congestion, or his car may break down and he may not arrive at the airport. Then, even if she is saved from this and everything goes well, who will sit next to her on the plane? A wicked man who is traveling may sit next to her, and he may tempt her and she may be tempted, as this sometimes happens. Therefore, the wisdom of the Shari'ah in prohibiting a woman from traveling absolutely is the correct wisdom, and it is the one that ensures safety.
It is not permissible for a woman to travel without a mahram, whether for knowledge, Hajj, 'Umrah, visiting, or anything else.Due to the generality of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): (No woman should travel except with a mahram) However, some people may think that this is not travel, but rather a short trip. For example, some women nowadays go from their town to a nearby town to learn or to teach, and they return on the same day. This is not considered travel. Therefore, if a woman goes from Unaizah to Buraydah to learn or teach, accompanied by other women, and they return to their homes after the lesson ends, this is not travel, so it is permissible for the woman to go and return. However, it is not permissible for her to be alone with the driver if he is not a mahram to her.
Even on an airplane, it is not permissible for her to travel.We say: First, the mahram who is in the city from which she flew, if he takes her to the waiting area, he returns, and she remains alone with men. Then, even if he were to take her until she boards the plane, the plane may take off at its scheduled time, or it may be delayed due to a technical malfunction, weather, or other reasons. Then, once she is on the plane, there may be a reason preventing her from landing at the airport she intended, such as bad weather, as they say, or a technical malfunction, such as the landing gear refusing to lower, or other causes. So she remains, going to another country. Then, even if she is saved from this and lands at the airport she wants, her second mahram who is to receive her may arrive at the scheduled time, or he may not arrive. He may fall asleep, or he may fall ill. He may be prevented by traffic congestion, or his car may break down and he may not arrive at the airport. Then, even if she is saved from this and everything goes well, who will sit next to her on the plane? A wicked man who is traveling may sit next to her, and he may tempt her and she may be tempted, as this sometimes happens. Therefore, the wisdom of the Shari'ah in prohibiting a woman from traveling absolutely is the correct wisdom, and it is the one that ensures safety.