The Distance A Woman Can Travel Without A Mahram by Shaikh Ibn Bāz

The Distance A Woman Can Travel Without A Mahram |
By Shaikh Ibn Bāz

abukhadeejah.com/the-distance-a-woman-can-travel-without-a-mahram-by-shaikh-ibn-baz
Abu Khadeejah Abdul-Wahid 18 April 2018
Question:
What is the distance at which the Sharee’ah allows a woman to travel without a Mahram?
How do we harmonise between those narrations that mention a limit of three days
distance, and another that mentions two days distance, yet another that states one day?
How many kilometres is a journey of a day in our times?
The Imām, Al-‘Allāmah, ‘Abdul-‘Azeez Ibn Bāz answered:
The principle here is: What is termed a journey at which point it is not permitted for a
woman to travel except which a Mahram?
Everything that is considered a journey, then it is not allowed for a woman to embark
upon it except with a mahram, due to the saying of the Prophet ( ): “A woman is not to
travel except with a mahram.” In a narration, “For a journey of a day and a night
except with a mahram.” In a narration, “For a journey of a day.” In a narration, “For a
journey of a night except with a mahram.” In another, “For a journey of three days
except with a mahram.” And in another narration, “For a journey of half a day.” So the
scholars have stated that Allah’s Messenger ( ) would respond in accordance to the
questioner asking the question. So a questioner would ask, “If a woman wishes to
travel for the length of a day, is that allowed for her?” So the Messenger ( ) would
respond, “She is not to travel the distance of day’s journey except with a
mahram.” Another would ask, “Can she travel for the journey of a night?” Another
would ask, “Can she travel for a journey of three days?” So Prophet ( ) would answer
in accordance to the question asked.
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It can also be understood that he would answer in accordance with the Revelation sent to
him in those situations. Then Allah ( ) reduced the hardship concerning travel. So Allah
permitted women to go out in what is not termed a journey. And He did not permit her to
go out in that which was considered a journey unless she is accompanied by a mahram.
The point is that his ( ) statements could be in accordance with the questions asked. It
could also be that Allah forbade the woman from going out for the distance of half a day
except with a mahram, then after that, He (the Most High) forbade her from a distance of
a day and a night except with a mahram. Then after that, He forbade her from going out
for a distance of three days (and so on) – all this due to a far-reaching wisdom.
But all this is understood on the basis of what is considered a journey. And a journey is
that which agrees with the evidence. In that regard, there are narrations reported in the
two Saheehs (Bukhari and Muslim) that place no limits and restrictions on the matter,
where the Prophet ( ) stated, “A woman is not to travel except with a Mahram.” So
he stated that without any restriction (of days or nights) as occurs in this narration in the
Saheeh (of Al-Bukhāri) from the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him).
This one narration harmonises between all the other narrations. Everything that is
referred to, or considered to be a journey, then a woman is not allowed to embark on it
except with a Mahram. And least of that is half a day, so she cannot embark upon it
because this may expose her to evil, corruption and treacherous conduct.
It is not necessary for her to hazard a journey without a mahram. A mahram is her
husband and other than him, from those she is forbidden to marry permanently due to
blood relations, such as her brother, her father, or a brother through breastfeeding from
the same wet nurse. Likewise her paternal uncle through breastfeeding (as they are
forbidden for her to marry) and so on.
A day and night’s travel is approximately 80 kilometres (or) 75 kilometres approximately.

Half a day is therefore 40km approximately. That is because a day and night are 24
hours, so half of that is 12 hours making it 40km or so. So it is upon her that she keeps
herself away from that which approaches this.
As for normal moving around within the city or town, and to the limits of the city, then she
does not require a mahram if she is in the company of other women or she is in a safe
locality; in a safe and secure township where she does not fear anything, then there is no
problem in her moving about the area, to fulfill her needs. It can be from one house to
another, even if is a kilometre or two kilometres, three or four (for that matter). All of this
does not harm so long as there is widespread safety, and no danger or suspicion, yes.
The Imām, Al-‘Allāmah ‘Abdul-‘Azeez Ibn Bāz (may Allah have mercy upon him).
Source: https://binbaz.org.sa/fatwas/12405
Read also:
Mindmap illustration showing the mahrams (male chaperones) of a woman for

travel and sittings
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___
Hadeeth on the topic:

َ ‫ﺎل َر ُﺟ ٌﻞ ﯾَﺎ َر ُﺳ‬
‫ﻮل‬ ‫ْﺧ ُﻞ َﻋﻠَْﯿ َﻬﺎ َر ُﺟ ٌﻞ إ ﱠ‬
َ ‫ َﻓ َﻘ‬.” ‫ﻻ َو َﻣ َﻌ َﻬﺎ َﻣ ْﺤ َﺮ ٌم‬ َ ‫ َو‬،‫ﻻ َﻣ َﻊ ِذي َﻣ ْﺤ َﺮم‬
ُ ‫ﻻ ﯾَﺪ‬ ‫ﻻ ﺗُ َﺴﺎ ِﻓ ِﺮ ْاﻟ َﻤ ْﺮأَ ُة إ ﱠ‬ َ ‫َﻗ‬
َ ” ‫ﺎل اﻟﻨﱠﺒ ﱡﻲ ﺻﻠﻰ اﷲ ﻋﻠﯿﻪ وﺳﻠﻢ‬
ِ ٍ ِ ِ
َ ‫ َﻓ َﻘ‬.‫ َو ْاﻣ َﺮأَﺗِﻲ ﺗُﺮﯾ ُﺪ ْاﻟ َﺤ ﱠﺞ‬،‫”اﷲِ إﻧﱢﻲ أُرﯾ ُﺪ أَ ْن أَ ْﺧ ُﺮ َج ِﻓﻲ َﺟ ْﯿﺶ َﻛ َﺬا َو َﻛ َﺬا‬
ْ ” ‫ﺎل‬
‫اﺧ ُﺮ ْج َﻣ َﻌ َﻬﺎ‬ ِ ِ ِ ِ ‫ﱠ‬
Bukhari no. 186
The Prophet ( ) said: “A woman is not to travel except with a mahram. A man is not
to enter the company of a woman unless her mahram is with her.” A man said, “O
Messenger of Allah! I wanted to out with the expedition of so-and-so, but my wife wants to
perform Hajj.” The Prophet said, “Go with her.”
Nasira wasim says:

19th April 2018 at 8:07 am
Jazakallah khair Ustadh for this clarification with evidence. Although I knew this principle,
the evidence was just vague.The evidence here is much clearer and explained very
clearly without ambiguity. May Allah (ta’aala) reward you for your efforts.
Reply
April Smith says:

19th April 2018 at 3:51 pm
Alhamdulillah. Jazakallaahu khairan.
Reply
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The Distance A Woman Can Travel Without A Mahram |

By Shaikh Ibn Bāz

Abu Khadeejah Abdul-Wahid 18 April 2018

The Imām, Al-‘Allāmah, ‘Abdul-‘Azeez Ibn Bāz answered:

A day and night’s travel is approximately 80 kilometres (or) 75 kilometres approximately.

Mindmap illustration showing the mahrams (male chaperones) of a woman for

Hadeeth on the topic:

Bukhari no. 186

Nasira wasim says:

April Smith says:

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