Fatwa.. A woman going for hajj alone

Egypt's Dar al-Iftaa answers readers' questions in various fatwas. We at See publish these fatwas. The question says:

Can a woman go for hajj alone?

ANSWER

Lady 'A`isha (may God be pleased with her) said, "We went out with the Messenger of God (from al-Medina) with the intention of performing hajj only" (Bukhari and Muslim). This hadith and others prove that it is permissible for a woman to accompany her husband on hajj. This permissibility is also based on the consensus of scholars who have unanimously agreed that hajj is obligatory for a woman who is capable of undertaking it.

Scholars have differed whether the company of a mahram (unmarriageable kin) is among the conditions of capability. According to the dominant opinion, it is permissible for a woman to go for hajj without a mahram but with trustworthy company.

The opinion appropriate for fatwa at present is that this is permissible and there is no objection to a woman traveling alone by the various safe routes and means of travel via their venues such as airports, harbors, and the like. This applies whether she is traveling for something obligatory, recommended, or permissible. The hadiths forbidding a woman to travel without a mahram pertain to lack of security which was previously the case. Based on this, if a woman's safety is ensured, the prohibition does not apply in the first place.

Scholars have unanimously agreed that a husband is entitled to prevent his wife from going for a voluntary hajj although he is not entitled to.