Ruling on the travel of female teachers without a mahram

Question:
The questioner (J. A. A) says in this question: We are teachers who go to school with a foreign driver, and we are groups of teachers. The distance we travel for teaching is estimated to be between one hundred and fifty and one hundred and eighty kilometers. Knowing that the driver’s wife is with him, is it permissible for us to travel with this driver for the purpose of teaching, and return on the same day, O Shaykh? Please give us a ruling on this.

Answer:
This is a matter that has occupied the minds of many people; because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade a woman from traveling except with a mahram. The need for these women to travel to perform their duty is pressing, and not every woman has a mahram available to her. It is obligatory for a woman to strive not to travel except with a mahram. Even if she is with women, or with a driver who has his wife with him, this does not suffice in place of a mahram. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: These women are traveling without a mahram over long distances, and this is a matter of concern; because it contradicts the authentic Sunnah. Some scholars have permitted this out of need and dire necessity if the road is safe and there is no danger, but this is a matter of concern.
So what appears to me is that it is not permissible for any woman to travel except with a mahram. This is not a situation of dire necessity, for a woman is able to travel with her husband, or her brother, or her father. And Allah is the One to be sought for help. Yes.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good, O Allah, amen, may Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh.