Females Travelling More Than Shari Distance for Islamic Studies

Question

Many girls travel overseas without a Mahram to go for studies. Some even go for Aalimah courses;

Q1. Is this permissible?

Q2. Do followers of the Shafi’ee Madhab follow the same ruling?

Q3. Do the Madaris that enrol such students also bear the sin of such students? Should they be responsible?

Q4. Are females permitted to travel without a Mahram in large groups?

Q5. Can a girl travel with another girl, who has a Mahram but he is Ghair Mahram to the first girl?

Maulana Ahmed Saeed · Accepted Answer

A1. The Kitaabs of Fiqh state that a female is prohibited from travelling Safr distance (which is 48 miles or 78 km) without a Mahram. [Re: Fataawa Uthmaaniyyah Vol:10 Pg:107] However, in our times of Fitnah, a female should always remain with a Mahram when venturing outdoors.

A2. We suggest that you refer your query to a Shafi’ee Mufti for a ruling in their Madhab.

A3. We are not in favour of girls boarding at girl’s Madrasahs. A female should be educated at home by one of her Maharim. If this is not possible then she should be educated by a righteous female in the town. After attending classes, she should return home before sunset, or if this is not possible then she may attend a girls Madrasah. She should be dropped off by a Mahram in the morning and picked up by a Mahram before sunset.

A4. .No, it will not be permissible for females to travel in large groups without their Mahaarim according to the Hanafi school of thought. [Re: Fataawa Qasmiyyah Vol:12 Pg:124]

A5. It will not be permissible, as a strange man (who may be a Mahram to her companion) is not her Mahram. This in essence means that she is travelling without a Mahram. [Re: Fataawa Darul Uloom Zakariyya Vol: 7 Pg:236]

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