or her brother; and through a permissible cause, such as a foster-brother, her mother’s husband, or her husband’s son.

The evidence for this condition is the report narrated by Ibn ʿAbbās (may Allah be pleased with them). He said that he heard the Prophet ﷺ delivering a sermon in which he declared: “No man is ever alone with a woman unless she is accompanied by a mahram, and a woman must not travel unless a mahram is with her.” A man stood up and said, “O Messenger of Allah, my wife has set out for Hajj, and I have enlisted in such-and-such expedition.” He replied, “Go and perform Hajj with your wife.” (1)

Ibn ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with them) likewise reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “A woman is not to travel for three days unless she is accompanied by a mahram.” (2)

Numerous hadiths convey the same ruling: a woman may not travel—for Hajj or any other purpose—without a mahram. A woman is physically weaker and may face various unforeseen hardships on the road that only men can confront. She is also vulnerable to the designs of the corrupt; hence she must have a mahram who will guard and protect her from harm.

The mahram who accompanies her on Hajj must be sane, an adult, and a Muslim, for a non-Muslim cannot be trusted to safeguard her. If she has no hope of finding such a mahram, she must appoint someone to perform Hajj on her behalf.