Chapter: The Prohibition of a Woman Traveling by Herself

989 – Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “It is not lawful for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to travel the distance of a day and a night unless she is accompanied by a mahram (a male relative with whom marriage is permanently forbidden).” Agreed upon.

990 – Ibn ʿAbbās (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: I heard the Prophet ﷺ declare, “No man should ever be alone with a woman unless she is accompanied by a mahram, and a woman must not travel except with a mahram.” A man then said, “O Messenger of Allah, my wife has set out for Hajj while I have enlisted in such-and-such expedition.” He replied, “Go and perform Hajj with your wife.” Agreed upon.

[Explanation]
The author—may Allah have mercy on him—has placed in Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn a chapter on the prohibition of a woman’s traveling alone, meaning without a mahram. The reason is that a woman’s intellect and religious commitment are comparatively vulnerable; anyone can deceive her, and every