In Islam, a mahram is one with whom marriage is haram or not permissible. With him, the woman is not obliged to cover her head or body with a hijab or tunic. Such a person can escort a woman or women of his family for Umrah. Umrah without mahram is prohibited under Islamic rules. Also, Saudi Arabia does not allow women to enter the premises without a male accompanying them. According to the Saudi rules, they will not receive an Umrah visa without a mahram. If anyone is found violating the law of the land, she can face deportation.
However, with recent changes in the law, women above 45 can travel in a group with a mahram. Among Muslims, a woman must be afraid of Allah and not defy any regulations. The almighty will accept her prayers and bless her.
Importance of Mahram in Islam
The concept of mahram signifies protection and guardianship. He protects women from the polluting influence and wilderness of the world. People come in huge numbers for Umrah and Hajj, and a woman on her own is almost certain to be pestered by men. Hence, she needs a shelter that a mahram provides. Umrah is a sacred pilgrimage that stands for purity, and preserving the respect of women is the responsibility of mahram.
Umrah for Ladies without Mahram
Umrah for ladies without a mahram is prohibited. It is for the safety and comfort of a woman in Islam that she must perform the pilgrimage with her husband or a relative accompanying her. While safety is concerned, many scholars have argued for the compulsion of travelling with a mahram. They have suggested that women can also travel in groups and stay safe. However, a trustworthy company of a husband or a male member of the family is widely accepted and is a compulsion for only women travelers below 45 years of age.
Who is a Mahram?
Generally, a mahram is one with whom marriage is illegal in Islam, that is all men related to women by blood. By definition, a mahram can be related to the woman as a:
- Parent
- Grandparent
- Other ancestor
- Sibling
- Sibling of ancestors
- Maternal or paternal uncle
- Child or grandchild of siblings; above 15 years of age
Mahram can also belong to the family of the husband. By this definition, one can be a:
- Parent, grandparent or ancestor of spouse
- Child, descendant or grandchild of the spouse; above 15 years of age
- A male who married a descendant of the spouse
- A male who married an ancestor of spouse
For older women, a mahram must have reached the age of puberty. But for a girl, who is an adolescent, he should be a sane adult male with capabilities to provide for her financially. He must be able to protect her from the outside world.
Other than this, foster siblings, connected by the same female ancestor, can also accompany a woman as mahram. A sibling who has been nursed by the same mother or relative can escort females for Umrah. A husband, by marriage, is a legal mahram for the entire life of his wife unless divorced.
Rules For Women For Umrah Without Mahram
If planning Umrah without a mahram in 2021, women must consider the following rules:
- She must be above the age of 45 and submit a no-objection certificate from her family to travel in an organised group.
- She cannot perform Ramal (a ritual of running at a medium pace during Tawaf, circling Kaaba, and Sa’i, a journey that starts from Safa and ends at Marwa).
- If the Kaaba is bustling with the crowd, she must maintain a safe distance from everyone, especially men.
- She cannot recite Talbiyah (a prayer for Umrah) loudly like men.
- She must not attract the attention of other men in any way.
- She must stay with her group and not start a conversation with an unrelated male.
- She must pray in the separate area provided for women. If there is a crowd, she can offer nafl prayers anywhere in Masjid-ul-Haram, after Tawaf is completed.
However, if a woman is travelling with a mahram, the rules are a bit relaxed. She can take part in a number of rituals, provided that she maintains the prescribed code of conduct for clothes and stays with her mahram only.
In any case, women must put extra effort and dress according to the code. They must wear an abaya that can cover their body from head to toe and does not reveal the garments inside. Women are also not allowed to wear glittery clothes, scents, jewelry or anything sparkling, which can attract attention from the surrounding. It also prevents the soul from connecting with Allah.
Mentions of Mahram in Quran
“Do not marry former wives of your fathers—except what was done previously. It was indeed a shameful, despicable, and evil practice.”
– An Nisha 4:22
“Also˺ forbidden to you for marriage are your mothers, your daughters, your sisters, your paternal and maternal aunts, your brother’s daughters, your sister’s daughters, your foster-mothers, your foster-sisters, your mothers-in-law, your stepdaughters under your guardianship if you have consummated marriage with their mothers—but if you have not, then you can marry them—nor the wives of your own sons, nor two sisters together at the same time—except what was done previously. Surely Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
– An Nisha 4:22
Umrah comes with rules and regulations that pilgrims must follow to complete their journey. One of the crucial things that every woman traveler must understand is that they cannot travel without a mahram. For every ritual, a woman must be accompanied by her mahram to complete the pilgrimage and lead a hassle-free journey. If intending female pilgrims make plans to travel the most sacred of Islamic cities of Makkah and Madinah for Hajj or Umrah, they must read and adhere to the guidelines and make booking accordingly.
Suggested Read: Planning An Umrah Trip: Everything You Need To Know
Umrah Without Mahram FAQs
Who is a mahram?
In Islam, a mahram is one with whom marriage is haram or not permissible. With him, the woman is not obliged to cover her head or body with a hijab or tunic.
Can you go to Umrah without a mahram?
Umrah for ladies without a mahram is prohibited. It is for the safety and comfort of a woman in Islam that she must perform the pilgrimage with her husband or a relative accompanying her. While safety is concerned, many scholars have argued for the compulsion of travelling with a mahram.
How old should mahram be for Umrah?
When a boy reaches the age of fifteen years, he can be considered as a mahram in Umrah for a female person.
What is the significance of mahram in Islam?
People come in huge numbers for Umrah and Hajj, and an alone woman is almost certain to be pestered by men. Hence, she needs a shelter that a mahram provides. Umrah is a sacred pilgrimage that stands for purity, and preserving the respect of women is the responsibility of mahram.
What are the things that women cannot do during Umrah without Mahram?
Women traveling without Mahram cannot take part in numerous rituals of Umrah that women with Mahram can.
Are there any dress code relaxation for women traveling with mahram for Umrah?
No, one will still have to follow all the dress code while traveling with Mahram.
