The Ruling on a Woman Working and Residing in a Place Other Than Her Hometown Without a Mahram

Here is a message sent by one of our sisters who named herself Sumayyah Mustafa from Riyadh. Our sister says: I want to ask about a woman working and residing without a mahram in a place other than her hometown. I am currently working in the Kingdom in a place where everyone is women, and I reside in the internal dormitory attached to the workplace, which is also all women, and praise be to Allah, there is no mixing or anything that angers Allah , whether in the workplace or the residence. I tried to bring my brother as my religious mahram, but I was not successful in doing so. What is the ruling of the Shari'ah regarding my current situation and my residence here without a mahram? I should mention that first, I sought guidance from Allah the Exalted and Majestic many times before coming here, and I felt that Allah facilitated many matters for me regarding this. Second: the situation in my country regarding mixing and bad morals in the workplace does not encourage a committed Muslim person to continue in it, in light of what I have mentioned to you. I ask for the correct fatwa and guide us to what you see, may Allah grant you success, and peace?
Answer: We ask Allah for success and rectification of affairs for us and for you. As for what you asked about, there is no harm in it. A woman residing in a country without a mahram involves no harm and no blame, especially if there is no danger in it. If she is among women, or in a workplace protected from men as permitted by Allah , or in a women's internal dormitory among women, then there is no blame in any of this. What is prohibited is traveling; she must not travel except with a mahram, and she must not come except with a mahram. If you came from your country without a mahram, then you must repent to Allah, seek His forgiveness, and not return to such a thing. If you wish to travel, a mahram is necessary, so be patient until the mahram arrives. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): If a mahram becomes available through relatives or through marriage, such that you have a husband who marries you, and your husband becomes your mahram for travel, the matter is in the hands of Allah. So you must do what you can regarding travel until a mahram is obtained.
As for your current residence among women in a permissible job, there is no blame in it, and praise be to Allah.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.