The ruling on a woman who cannot perform Hajj due to the absence of a mahram
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
One of the pious sisters—as she described herself—sent a set of questions. Her first question is: If a woman cannot find a mahram to travel with her to Hajj, is the obligation dropped from her? And if there is a mahram but he refuses to travel with her, what is the ruling?
Answer: The correct view is that she owes nothing, but the matter remains pending. If a mahram becomes available before she dies and she is able, she performs Hajj. If no mahram becomes available, she owes nothing and there is no blame on her, and praise be to Allah. This is because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade a woman to travel except with a mahram. Therefore, she is excused by the Shari'ah. If she dies and no mahram becomes available, she owes nothing, and praise be to Allah.
The presenter: May Allah reward you. Do you have a word for the mahrams regarding this topic, Shaykh 'Abd al-'Aziz?
The Shaykh: Yes, we advise our Muslim sisters to fear Allah and to be cautious about traveling except with a mahram. We advise the mahrams to fear Allah and to be kind to their mahrams. If they need them for Hajj or for another matter that Allah has permitted, they should help and not refuse. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says: [Al-Ma'idah: 2]. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih al-Bukhari 6951 And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1425Sahih (Darussalam) So the advice to women is that they should not be lax in this matter, and that they should not go out with women or with other men except with a mahram, whether for travel to Hajj or for travel other than Hajj.
And the advice to men is to fear Allah and to be kind to their mahrams. If the need arises for a woman to travel to Hajj or for an important matter prescribed by the Shari'ah, it is prescribed for them to help and to travel with them to fulfill this task, which contains nothing but good. Yes.
The presenter: It seems to me that I understand from this listening sister's message that some men are reluctant to serve women, Your Eminence. Do you have a word if you would be so kind?
The Shaykh: This is not service in the sense of menial labor, but rather it is assistance in good, kindness, and the fulfillment of an obligation, which is Hajj. He is helping her to fulfill the obligation. If he travels with her to Hajj, he is doing a good deed. If he serves his mahram in his travel with her, this is noble service for which he is rewarded, and praise be to Allah. If he serves her in maintaining her family ties, such as transporting her to the doctor, bringing her medicine, or helping her if she is poor, all of this is good, prescribed service.Sahih al-Bukhari 6951 And for a Muslim to serve his brother in Allah, or his sister in Allah, or his mahram, this is an honor for him and a great reward for him, with no deficiency in it.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
Answer: The correct view is that she owes nothing, but the matter remains pending. If a mahram becomes available before she dies and she is able, she performs Hajj. If no mahram becomes available, she owes nothing and there is no blame on her, and praise be to Allah. This is because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade a woman to travel except with a mahram. Therefore, she is excused by the Shari'ah. If she dies and no mahram becomes available, she owes nothing, and praise be to Allah.
The presenter: May Allah reward you. Do you have a word for the mahrams regarding this topic, Shaykh 'Abd al-'Aziz?
The Shaykh: Yes, we advise our Muslim sisters to fear Allah and to be cautious about traveling except with a mahram. We advise the mahrams to fear Allah and to be kind to their mahrams. If they need them for Hajj or for another matter that Allah has permitted, they should help and not refuse. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says:
cooperate in righteousness and piety
وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَىAnd whoever fulfilled the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfill his needs.
من كان في حاجة أخيه كان الله في حاجتهAnd Allah is engaged in helping the worshipper as long as the worshipper is engaged in helping his brother.
والله في عون العبد ما كان العبد في عون أخيهAnd the advice to men is to fear Allah and to be kind to their mahrams. If the need arises for a woman to travel to Hajj or for an important matter prescribed by the Shari'ah, it is prescribed for them to help and to travel with them to fulfill this task, which contains nothing but good. Yes.
The presenter: It seems to me that I understand from this listening sister's message that some men are reluctant to serve women, Your Eminence. Do you have a word if you would be so kind?
The Shaykh: This is not service in the sense of menial labor, but rather it is assistance in good, kindness, and the fulfillment of an obligation, which is Hajj. He is helping her to fulfill the obligation. If he travels with her to Hajj, he is doing a good deed. If he serves his mahram in his travel with her, this is noble service for which he is rewarded, and praise be to Allah. If he serves her in maintaining her family ties, such as transporting her to the doctor, bringing her medicine, or helping her if she is poor, all of this is good, prescribed service.
And whoever fulfilled the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfill his needs.
من كان في حاجة أخيه كان الله في حاجتهThe presenter: May Allah reward you.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.