Can a Woman Travel Alone or with Another Woman to a Different Country?
Question: Assalamualikum I want to ask that can women travel to a different country alone What would be the ruling If even a women travel with another women
Summary:
It is not permissible for a woman to undertake travel that is considered travel according to customary understanding except with a husband or a mahram, whether she travels alone, with another woman, or with a group of women. This is because the Prophet ﷺ prohibited a woman from traveling without a mahram, and he did not make an exception for a woman traveling with another woman or with a group of women.
Answer:
Authentic and explicit texts have come establishing the prohibition of a woman traveling without a mahram.
From the Sunnah:
- Reported by al-Bukhari and MuslimAbdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"A woman must not travel except with a mahram."
- Reported by al-Bukhari and MuslimAbu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"It is not lawful for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to travel the distance of a day and a night unless she is accompanied by a mahram."
- Reported by al-Bukhari and MuslimAbu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"A woman must not travel the distance of two days unless she is accompanied by her husband or a mahram."
These hadiths are general and include all forms of travel. They do not differentiate between travel for an act of worship and permissible travel, nor between safe travel and unsafe travel, nor between a woman traveling alone and traveling with other women.
- Reported by al-Bukhari and MuslimAbdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported:
When a man stood and said to the Prophet ﷺ: "My wife has gone out for Hajj, and I have enlisted for such-and-such military expedition," the Prophet ﷺ said: "A man must not be alone with a woman unless she is accompanied by a mahram, and a woman must not travel except with a mahram." Then a man stood and said: "O Messenger of Allah, my wife has gone out for Hajj and I have enlisted for such-and-such expedition." He said: "Go and perform Hajj with your wife."
Thus, the Prophet ﷺ instructed him to leave the military expedition and accompany his wife, thereby fulfilling the condition of a mahram during travel.
Is it sufficient for her to travel with another woman? The answer is no. This is because the other woman is not a mahram for her. The Prophet ﷺ attached the ruling to the presence of a husband or a mahram and did not attach it to the presence of another woman or a group of women. Had the presence of women with one another served as a substitute for a mahram, the Prophet ﷺ would have clarified it, because there was a need for such clarification. The Wisdom Behind Requiring a Mahram The requirement of a mahram is among the beauties of the Shariah because it provides greater protection for the woman, better preserves her honor, and keeps her further away from causes of temptation, exploitation, and harm.
From the Qur'an:
- [Surah al-Baqarah 2:216]
"And Allah knows while you do not know."
- [Surah al-Ahzab 33:36]
"It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should have any choice in their affair."
Therefore, it is obligatory upon the believer to submit to the command of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, whether the wisdom behind it becomes fully apparent to him or not. Final Answer: • It is prohibited for a woman to travel to another country or undertake any travel without a husband or a mahram. • It is not permissible for her to travel alone. • Nor is it permissible for her to travel with only another woman or with only a group of women. • The authentic hadiths contain an explicit prohibition of a woman traveling except with a husband or a mahram. • It is obligatory upon the Muslim woman to fear Allah and adhere to this Islamic ruling, for all goodness lies in following the Sunnah, and all safety lies in obeying Allah and His Messenger ﷺ. • If a woman travels without a husband or a mahram, then she is sinful due to violating the explicit prohibition found in the Sunnah, whether she travels alone, with another woman,
And Allah knows best.
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