to engage in sexual intercourse or anything that leads to it, and it is likewise unlawful for the pilgrim—male or female—to contract a marriage. All of these actions are forbidden to a person in ihram and are what are called the prohibitions of ihram.
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A Woman Performing Hajj without a Mahram
Question: My mother performed Hajj without a mahram, and she was over sixty years old. Is that Hajj valid, or must I perform Hajj on her behalf, bearing in mind that she has passed away—may Allah have mercy on her?
Answer: When a woman performs Hajj without a mahram she is sinful, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade a woman to travel except in the company of a mahram, whether for Hajj or for anything else. As for the Hajj itself, it is valid, God willing, though accompanied by sin, and we hope that Allah will pardon her. Her pilgrimage is valid even at the advanced age you mention, for the hadith is general: the Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade any woman to travel unless accompanied by a mahram—this applies to the old and the young, for Hajj and for every other journey. Therefore, she is regarded as mistaken and sinful in this regard, but the Hajj itself is valid so long as she performed its rites correctly. If someone wishes to volunteer another Hajj on her behalf, there is no objection; indeed, that would be an act of filial piety toward her.
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Hajj and Debt
Question: A person is in debt and lives in one country while his creditor lives in another. The creditor says he is not in urgent need of the money, and the debtor has performed Hajj before settling the debt. Is his Hajj valid, or is it impermissible for someone in debt to perform Hajj until he has paid it off?