How far can a woman travel without a mahram?

Question

I have read some hadeeth about it but I wanted something more specific. An explanation about this issue by the major scholars would be nice.

http://www.troid.org/sisters/the-muslim-woman/some-miscellaneous-authentic-ahaadeeth-on-women-travelling.html

What is the meaning of three days? Is that 3 days of walking non stop or is that like taking breaks because you sleep, eat, drink, rest and pray during the day.

It's very confusing.

Some people say women can travel by themselves up to 50 miles but the proof they use for that is out of context.

Have any of the scholars said anything about women traveling by themselves? I would like some proof please.

I guess it's not an issue in Saudi but it is an issue here in the UK and America.

Answer 1

It is haraam for a woman to travel without a mahram unnecessarily, whether that is a long or a short distance, because of the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “It is not permissible for a woman who believes in Allaah and the Last Day to travel for the distance of one day and one night except with a mahram.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim.

The saheeh Sunnah indicates that it is not permissible for a woman to travel except with a mahram. This travelling is not defined by a specific distance, as is the case with shortening the prayers or breaking the fast, rather everything that is called travelling, whether it is long or short, is not permitted for a woman unless she has a mahram with her.

Al-Bukhaari (1729) and Muslim (2391) narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “No woman should travel except with a mahram.”

The fuqaha’ are unanimously agreed that it is haraam for a woman to travel without a mahram, except in a few exceptional cases, such as travelling for the obligatory Hajj, for which some of them have permitted a women to travel with trustworthy companions. Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: al-Baghawi said: They did not differ concerning the fact that a woman may not travel for anything but the obligatory Hajj except with a husband or mahram, except a kaafir woman who becomes Muslim in daar al-harb or a female captive who escapes. Others added: or a woman who becomes separated from her group and is found by a trustworthy man, in which case it is permissible for him to accompany her until he brings her back to her group. End quote from Fath al-Baari (4/76).

Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Sharh Saheeh Muslim, explaining that travel in this case is not defined by a specific distance:

Everything that is called travelling, it is forbidden for a woman to do without her husband or a mahram, whether it is three days, two days or one day, or anything else, because of the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Abbaas, according to which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “No woman should travel without a mahram.” This includes everything that is called travel. And Allaah knows best.

End quote.

And it says in Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah (17/339): It is haraam for a woman to travel without a mahram in all cases, whether the journey is long or short. End quote.

Based on this, if going from your city to this place is regarded as travelling according to the people’s customs, then it is not permissible for you to go there without a mahram. If it is not regarded as travelling according to custom then there is nothing wrong with you going there without a mahram.

The fact that the route is filled with cities, schools and farms does not alter this ruling.  

Answer 2

2 yards is all what is allowed

Answer 3

They could travel as far as they could go,

Answer 4

u read fatwa ibn baaz u consult Dr Zaqir naik on www.irf.net or u ask quran o sunnah.com

Answer 5

It is haraam for a woman to travel without a mahram weather if its a long or short distance.

HEY! Arent you 'Questions & Answers?' That guy who was insulting me?

Answer 6

listen sister :)

3 days means,three days in the past,where ppl used to travel with camels..

three days when it was translated to distance,it would be 74 km..

i know this because i've searched about it..as i was traveling alone to study...

btw..this is a controversial issue...

1)the malki madhab for example,does not restrict the distance,it is concerned about the danger and the exhaustion the woman would face,if the road was safe,malki allowed traveling alone.and imam Ibn Taimyah agreed with this.

2)other scholars allowed traveling any distance,if she was in a group of trustful women...

3)the shafi'y said if she is traveling with a good muslim woman.

4)There are those who make an exception for older woman with no desire, as has been transmitted from AI-Qaady Bin AI-Waleed Al-Yaajee, from the Maliki madhab. It is especially for women in general if we look at the meaning as was said by Ibn Daqeeq AI-Eid.

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The proof of the permissibility of a woman traveling without a mahram is incumbent upon there being security and the presence of trustworthy faithful people. What was reported by Al-Bukhari is that during the final hajj of Umar Bin Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), he gave permission to the wives of the Prophet (pbuh) to perform hajj. So he sent with them Uthman Bin Affan and Abdul Rahman. Umar, Uthman, Abdul-Rahman Bin Awf and the wives of the Prophet (pbuh) all agreed to this. None of the other companions rejected what they did and therefore this is considered to be consensus.

Second is what was reported by AI-Bukhari and Muslim from the Hadeeth of Ada Bin Haatim is that the Prophet (pbuh) told him about the future of Islam, it's spreading, and its light going throughout the earth. Among what he mentioned is: 'The day is near when a young woman will travel from AI-Hira (a city in Iraq), going to the Sacred House with no husband accompanying her. She will fear none but Allah.' This information does not only prove that this will happen it, but proves its permissibility, because it was mentioned in a phrase praising the spread of Islam along with its sense of security.