A few years ago, women were not allowed by the government of Saudi Arabia to enter the state without a mahram for an Umrah. This was a heartbreaking reality for Muslim women without a mehram. Imagine, your whole childhood was spent dreaming about visiting Mecca and Medina to do an Umrah and then you find out you are not allowed to?
In this article, we will be talking about a topic that has been discussed a lot in Islamic law and that is the question of whether a woman can do Umrah without a mahram. While the cultural decision has been that a woman must have a mahram joining her if she wants to perform an Umrah. However, in recent times, there have been various talks, especially considering modern travel conditions and safety measures that ensure a passenger’s safety.
What’s a Mahram?
The meaning of mahram is a person who you can’t be married to or someone with whom marriage is permanently unlawful due to close familial ties. The term is commonly used in Islamic contexts to refer to a specific relative with whom a person can have direct social contact without the need for a Hijab. For example, if you’re a woman then your husband, brother, father, son, or paternal uncle are your mahram’s. In Islam, a mahram must provide for and protect his family, whether they are his sister, mother, or wife.
Islamic law
Islamic law, or fiqh, is a system of Islam that guides Muslims about how they should live their life. This includes the details on how one should pray, family matters, trade, and social interactions. These things can be learned from two sources i.e. Hadith and the Quran. Islamic law is made by highly qualified scholars and they understand the Quran or Hadith to develop legal rulings on different issues.
For much of the last century, the question of whether a woman can travel alone to Mecca to do her Umrah has been debated. The traditional stance that has not allowed women to do this sacred ritual is based on a Hadith that shows that a woman must have a mahram to travel long distances.
However, we have to understand the need for this Hadith. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said this 1400 years ago in a society where there was no concept of women’s rights and the gender was heavily devalued. One reason Muslims take pride in their faith is that it gave Arab women a voice in a time when misogyny was normal. The hadith stands true to this day, however, with progress, distances have become shorter and a woman can now travel without sacrificing her modesty.
As a result, Islamic scholars and Islamic authorities across the globe revisited the issue. For example, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah’s 2019 policy change that allowed women to do an Umrah without a mahram shows a change in awareness, taking into account current travel conditions and safety measures. This by no means defies the Islamic principles. It merely accepts them by allowing them to use their free will.
What if I Don’t have a Mahram to Join me?
Until 2019, it was not allowed for women to perform an Umrah alone, as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia required a mahram to accompany a woman.
There is Islamic jurisprudence to this, as Abu Hurairah (RA) once quoted a hadith of the Prophet Muhammad SAW “It is not permissible for a woman who believes in Allah SWT and the last day to travel a distance of one day and one night without a mahram with her”.
However, in 2019, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced new policies that allowed women to do an Umrah without a mahram. This change is due to the supply of higher safety and safety measures for women.
Now, a woman can travel to Mecca and Medina to do an Umrah without a mahram provided that she follows the rules and regulations put in place to safeguard a woman on her voyage there.
What is a Women-Only Umrah Package?
Woman-only Umrah group packages are made especially for women to cater to their specific needs. They are meant to provide a comfortable and supportive pilgrimage for women travelling to holy sites. The package ensures that the safety of the women is not harmed and all the needs are taken care of by the travel package provider.
Women-only groups are led by skilled female guides to help women perform Umrah for the first time and help them with the process of the Umrah. The packages provide a chance for women to focus on their prayers without the interruption of mixed-gender setting.
Why are Women-only Packages a Good Option?
Women-only group Umrah packages are a good option for women travelling alone as being part of a group ensures that you are accompanied by people and even professionals who are skilled and can come in handy on your voyage there.
Affordable
If you have been delaying your plan of doing an Umrah due to the view that it’s too expensive. Guess what? It doesn’t have to be. If you compare it to an individual Umrah package the group Umrah packages are a better option for women on a tight budget.
You may wonder how is it possible, well basically what happens is that the travel package providers order things in bulk which allows them to have the authority to bargain with airline providers, hotels, etc.
Safety and Security
When you do an Umrah with a group, the imam makes sure the group moves together wherever it goes. This means that the chances of you being a victim of any unfortunate circumstance lessens. Also, whenever you’re outside the chances of you getting lost are less as you are part of a group that’s following someone who knows what they are doing. The tour operator will have plans for any bad scenarios, this ensures you always feel well-supported throughout the journey.
In conclusion, due to the advancement in technology which has made travelling easier. The Saudi government lifted the ban in 2019 which now allows solo female travellers to perform an Umrah without any restrictions.
