In Islam, a woman is restricted to performing Umrah alongside a Mahram. The reason is to ensure women’s security and safety throughout the Umrah journey, especially during the travel. A Mahram could be someone who is closely related to the woman and is there to ensure the well-being and safety of the woman.
The Holy Prophet PBUH advised women not to travel alone or perform Umrah without a mahram on any long journey. A mahram, according to Islam, plays a very important role in protecting and supporting a woman during pilgrimage. Cheap Umrah Deals UK offers exclusive services and discounts for the Muslim community in the UK. If you wish to travel on a blessed Umrah journey, contact Islamic Travel Agency today.
Understanding the Concept of Mahram in Islam
The concept of a Mahram comes from a very ancient and traditional prophetic concept. The Prophet Muhammad PBUH told women not to travel alone on long journeys without the presence of a Mahram. This idea was put up to ensure the well-being and safety of women when they travelled on long journeys. During pilgrimages, there can be large crowds seen, and therefore, to safeguard women and their peace, a mahram male presence is necessary.
What is a Mahram?
A Mahram is a male being that is closely related to a woman. A Mahram is a blood relative with whom marriage is permanently prohibited, such as a father, brother or son. The presence of a mahram ensures the well-being as well as the safety of a woman, especially during long travel and extremely crowded environments such as overly crowded pilgrimages.
Mahram meaning in Islam:
In Islam, a Mahram is a male with whom marriage is strictly forbidden. This could be a son, a father or a brother. These relationships between a woman and a man are made through blood, breast-feeding or marital ties.
Perform Umrah without a Mahram
In the past, women were restricted to travelling for Umrah only with a Mahram. However, very recently the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah Services introduced e-tourist visas that let women travel alone and perform Umrah without a Mahram but with a close relative such as a mother, sister, aunt or even close friends. Now, women no longer require a mahram to travel for Umrah.
Reason behind the Mahram Rule:
The reason behind the Mahram rule being put on women was for their safety and security. Prophet Muhammad PBUH advised that women could not travel alone without a mahram on long journeys and potentially crowded places such as a pilgrimage for their safety. Women in the past did not have many safe options to travel alone, and so for their safeguards, men were required to go with them to perform Umrah or on any other long journey.
Modern Scholarly Opinions:
However, in the world of today, many steps have been taken to ensure women’s security and safety. Women can now travel alone for trips and holidays too. Keeping in view the advanced and increased security for women, modern scholars believe that Umrah is now safe for women to travel alone on. This is because they believe women now have enough security and safety provided to them, and therefore the Umrah journey overall is easy to perform for women today as compared to the past.
Multiple Scholars allow Solo Umrah if safe
Multiple Sheikhs and scholars of today allow women to travel alone for Umrah. They believe that with the advancement in the world, multiple steps have been taken to ensure women’s security and safety. This is why the women of today can easily travel with their mother, sister or even a close relative to perform Umrah.
Saudi Arabia’s updated policy (2021–present)
The government of Saudi Arabia recently made amendments to their Umrah policy under their new Vision 2030 for Saudi Arabia. According to these changes, the women can now easily perform Umrah without the presence of a mahram. This very recent policy has allowed women to be able to travel alone and perform Umrah with ease and without the compulsion of travelling with a male companion.
Backed by Hadith indicating future safety
The recent changes made by the Saudi government show that this incident was predetermined to happen. According to a famous hadith in the Sahih Bukhari:
“A time will come when a woman will travel from Hira to Makkah fearing no one but Allah.”
— Sahih al-Bukhari
This clearly shows how the recent amendment made for women to be able to travel alone was already determined.
Can a woman travel without Mahram:
If you are a woman who has no Mahram to travel with and wishes to go on an Umrah journey alone. Islamic Travel Agency offers Ramadan Umrah Packages UK at the most affordable rates for families or especially for females who want to perform umrah alone. The Saudi govt. now issues visas to women unaccompanied, and they can travel with their mothers, sisters or even close friends. So, in case you are wondering whether you can travel alone without a Mahram, you must know that you can.