A woman who travels with a child of seven or eight years old on an airplane: is this considered a mahram for her?
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The questioner : This questioner from Dammam says: regarding, O honorable Shaykh, a woman traveling with a child who is seven or eight years old on an airplane, is this child considered a mahram?
The Shaykh : The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) say that it is a condition for a mahram that he be an adult and of sound mind, because he is the one who can protect the woman, guard her, and defend her, and he is the one who ensures her dignity in the eyes of people.
As for a small child, he is of no use in this regard. Therefore, it is not permissible for a woman to travel with a young mahram; rather, she must choose an adult mahram of sound mind, as the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) stated.
And it is astonishing that some women today are lax about traveling by plane, claiming that the plane is full of passengers, that the distance is short, and that she will be seen off from the country she is leaving and welcomed in the country she is heading to. But this is laxity and negligence regarding the limits of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). This is because this woman will be seen off by those who accompany her from the airport; once she enters the departure hall, the plane may be delayed from its scheduled departure time, or the flight may be canceled due to weather conditions, a technical malfunction, or something similar. So who will return her to her family? And if we assume the plane takes off, do we guarantee one hundred percent that it will land at the intended airport? It may not land; it may encounter a technical malfunction that causes the plane to return partway through the journey, or it may go to an airport closer than the intended one. Perhaps weather conditions will prevent the plane from landing at the intended airport. And if we assume that this is not the case and the plane lands at the specified intended airport, is the mahram who was about to meet her guaranteed to be there one hundred percent? Perhaps this mahram will be struck by an illness that prevents him from coming to the airport; perhaps he will fall asleep; perhaps his car will break down on the way; perhaps there will be traffic congestion on the road, and many other things that could happen and prevent him from reaching the airport. Then, if we assume that all of this does not happen, who will be next to her on the plane? It could be an untrustworthy man. The matter is serious. And if we assume that such a thing happens only once in ten cases, meaning ten percent, the Shari'ah has a far-reaching view in protecting chastity and avoiding dangers, especially in such matters that are considered a fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Mishkat al-Masabih 3085 and he informed that the fitnah of the Children of Israel was in women, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) spoke the truth.
And to this day, the fitnah of the disbelievers is in women, and the fitnah of some Muslims is also in women, so the matter is serious.
And I warn my sisters and their guardians against being lax about this great matter. I say that even if some scholars have granted a dispensation in such cases, the reference is to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his family). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) delivered a sermon in which he said:Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 9:2565 So a man stood up and said: O Messenger of Allah, I have signed up for the expedition of such-and-such, and my wife has gone out for a need. He said: Bulugh al-Maram 718 Thus he announced it without excluding anything. If someone says that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) did not know that such means of rapid transportation, which many people feel safe in, would occur, we say that if we assume he did not know about it, Allah the Exalted knew about it and did not reveal to His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) a revelation that excludes such cases. Moreover, the saying of Allah the Exalted: [An-Nahl 16:8] suggests that there are things that will happen which we do not know that will be ridden, and this is the reality. If we understand this understanding from the words of Allah, then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is stronger than us in understanding and more sound. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you for this blessed guidance, O honorable Shaykh.
The Shaykh : The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) say that it is a condition for a mahram that he be an adult and of sound mind, because he is the one who can protect the woman, guard her, and defend her, and he is the one who ensures her dignity in the eyes of people.
As for a small child, he is of no use in this regard. Therefore, it is not permissible for a woman to travel with a young mahram; rather, she must choose an adult mahram of sound mind, as the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) stated.
And it is astonishing that some women today are lax about traveling by plane, claiming that the plane is full of passengers, that the distance is short, and that she will be seen off from the country she is leaving and welcomed in the country she is heading to. But this is laxity and negligence regarding the limits of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). This is because this woman will be seen off by those who accompany her from the airport; once she enters the departure hall, the plane may be delayed from its scheduled departure time, or the flight may be canceled due to weather conditions, a technical malfunction, or something similar. So who will return her to her family? And if we assume the plane takes off, do we guarantee one hundred percent that it will land at the intended airport? It may not land; it may encounter a technical malfunction that causes the plane to return partway through the journey, or it may go to an airport closer than the intended one. Perhaps weather conditions will prevent the plane from landing at the intended airport. And if we assume that this is not the case and the plane lands at the specified intended airport, is the mahram who was about to meet her guaranteed to be there one hundred percent? Perhaps this mahram will be struck by an illness that prevents him from coming to the airport; perhaps he will fall asleep; perhaps his car will break down on the way; perhaps there will be traffic congestion on the road, and many other things that could happen and prevent him from reaching the airport. Then, if we assume that all of this does not happen, who will be next to her on the plane? It could be an untrustworthy man. The matter is serious. And if we assume that such a thing happens only once in ten cases, meaning ten percent, the Shari'ah has a far-reaching view in protecting chastity and avoiding dangers, especially in such matters that are considered a fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
I have not left behind me a trial more injurious to men than women.
ما تركت بعدي فتنة أضر على الرجال من النساءAnd to this day, the fitnah of the disbelievers is in women, and the fitnah of some Muslims is also in women, so the matter is serious.
And I warn my sisters and their guardians against being lax about this great matter. I say that even if some scholars have granted a dispensation in such cases, the reference is to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his family). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) delivered a sermon in which he said:
A woman must not travel except with a mahram.
لا تُسافر امرأة إلا مع ذي محرمGo and join your wife in Hajj
انطلق فحج مع امرأتكAnd [He created] the horses, mules and donkeys for you to ride and [as] adornment. And He creates that which you do not know.
وَالخَيلَ وَالبِغالَ وَالحَميرَ لِتَركَبوها وَزينَةً وَيَخلُقُ ما لا تَعلَمونَThe questioner : May Allah reward you for this blessed guidance, O honorable Shaykh.