Women get conditional nod from CII to perform Hajj without mahram

The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) on Wednesday granted conditional permission for women to perform Hajj without a male guardian or ‘mahram’. The Ministry of Religious Affairs had sought the council's opinion on the matter concerning women performing Hajj without a mahram. According to the council, within the framework of Jafria, Maliki, and Shafi'i schools of jurisprudence, there is room in Islamic law for women to undertake the Hajj without a male guardian. A spokesperson for CII stated that the permissibility of women performing Hajj without a mahram is subject to certain conditions. Read more: Finally! Mawra lauds decision permitting women to perform Umrah without ‘Mahram’ “A woman can undertake the Hajj without a mahram if her parents or husband grant permission,” he added. However, the council stated that according to the Hanafi and Hanbali schools of jurisprudence, if a male guardian is not available, it is not obligatory for a woman to perform Hajj. The spokesperson stated that a woman who has the company of trustworthy female companions and who does not have concerns about travel or any risks during the pilgrimage can undertake Hajj without a mahram. The spokesperson mentioned that the Ministry of Religious Affairs should carefully screen and verify the group with whom a woman intends to perform Hajj and only after ensuring the credibility of group members should permission be granted for a woman to undertake Hajj without a male guardian. In October last year, Saudi Arabia allowed women from all over the world to perform Umrah and Hajj without a mahram. Also read: In Makkah, women set off on Hajj as 'mehram' rule cast aside Dr Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, the Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, told reporters at a press conference at the Saudi embassy in Cairo that women who want to go to the kingdom for Umrah or Hajj no longer need a mahram. Faten Ibrahim Hussein, a writer and former adviser to the Minister of Hajj, said that letting women perform Umrah without a mahram makes their lives easier because many of them live in hard social situations and may not be able to find a mahram or may cost them a lot, even though they want to do Umrah. Prior to this, women could only go on the Hajj or Umrah pilgrimage if they were accompanied by a male guardian. There were some exceptions to the rule. For example, women could join large groups of other women on the Hajj or Umrah pilgrimage.

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