A woman’s travel to a nearby place, the duration of which is one hour.

Question:
What is the ruling on a woman traveling alone by air, if the travel distance does not take more than an hour and a half?

Answer:
Answer: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “It is not permissible for a woman to travel a distance of two days’ journey.” This means for the trip, a distance of two days’ journey. They estimated it as eighty kilometers, two stages, each stage being forty kilometers per day. It is not permissible for her to travel unless she has a mahram (a relative one may not marry) with her, whether in an airplane, in a car, on a mount, or on foot. It is necessary to have a mahram, even for Hajj; she does not go out except with a mahram. This is because a man signed up for a military expedition and said to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that his wife had gone out for Hajj. He said: “Go back and perform Hajj with your wife.” He sent him back from the expedition so that he would perform Hajj with his wife. Now, whoever says that an airplane does not require a mahram, or that if she is with a group she does not need a mahram, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) generalized this and did not exclude anything. In every time, in every place, and in all circumstances, a mahram is necessary for whoever fears Allah and is mindful of Him. A mahram is necessary. As for the one who seeks dispensations and asks whoever issues him a fatwa, his reckoning is with Allah.