What is the distance that requires a woman to have a mahram (a relative one may not marry) when she travels, and is a distance of half an hour by car considered travel?

The questioner : The questioner says: What is the distance that requires a woman to have a mahram (a relative one may not marry) when she travels? And is a distance of half an hour by car considered travel?

The Shaykh : The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: So whatever people consider travel is travel, whether the distance is long or short, and whatever people do not consider travel is not travel. Accordingly, if a woman works in a town near her own town and goes in the morning and returns after noon, this is not travel because people do not consider it travel, except if the distance is far, such as traveling from Makkah to al-Madinah or from Makkah to Riyadh or the like; then this is travel, even if she returns on the same day, because the distance is far by custom. Some scholars said: It is not permissible for a woman to travel without a mahram (a relative one may not marry), whether the travel is short or long. The precaution is that she should not travel except with a mahram (a relative one may not marry), whether the travel is long or short. As for the obligation, it is not obligatory for her to have a mahram (a relative one may not marry) unless her leaving her town is considered travel.

The questioner : May Allah bless you.