A Woman Travelling For Hajj Without A Mahram

A woman is not permitted to travel without her husband or Mahram (a person with whom marriage is forbidden) for Hajj regardless of the Hajj being Fardh (compulsory) or Nafl (optional). If her husband or Mahram is not available, then Hajj will not be Fard (compulsory) upon her. She will not be permitted to go for Nafl Hajj (from South Africa) because it will involve her travelling alone which has been forbidden by Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam as is clearly mentioned in the following Hadeeth:

A woman should not travel 3days distance except with a Mahram (Bukhari)

Hazrat Mufti Mahmood-ul-Hasan Gongohi Rahimahullah writes: “If a lady has enough money to go for Hajj and either her husband or any Mahram is available to give her company throughout the journey of Hajj, THEN ONLY will it be FARDH upon her to go for Hajj, or else it will NOT even be Fardh for her to go for Hajj. Instead it will be necessary for her to make Wasiyyah (bequest) for Hajj to be performed on her behalf, the expenses of which have to be discharged from one third of her estate after she passes away. This is the ruling regarding a lady whether she is old or young, and whether there are other ladies in the group or not. And this is the Madhab of Im aam Abu Hanifah (RA)”