Women travelling without a mahram according to the new law of the Saudi government
Question
I want to go on umrah with my mother. We don’t have a mahram, so what should we do?
Can we travel alone because as per new rule of Saudia, women can go. Please guide.
Answer
It is not permissible in shariah for a woman to travel without a mahram. If she does so, she will be sinful. Hence, even though the Saudi government has permitted women to travel and enter the kingdom without being accompanied by their mahrams, a believer should not do so as this law contravenes the law of shariah.
The law of Allah Ta'ala takes precedence over every other law, hence a believer is duty bound by the law of Allah Ta'ala and not the law of any government. Many things the Saudi government has done are in open contradiction with the laws of Allah Ta'ala, therefore their permitting something is not a basis for it being permissible.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
- Answered by
- Mufti Zakaria Makada
- Checked & approved by
- Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)
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