Travelling to seek knowledge without a mahram

Question:

A woman reverted to Islām and would like to travel to Yemen because she is unable to obtain knowledge of the religion in her country but she does not have a mahram (male guardian), so is it permissible for her to travel without a mahram?

Answer:

I advise her – with these ‘fitan’ (difficulties) – not to. Only Allāh knows whether she will actually reach Yemen or not with these ‘fitan’, especially as women are vulnerable.

Whatsmore, she may even be turned away from some places, not accepted, doubted or cause disruption to others, so we advise her not to be hasty in leaving.

However, if she finds an alternative option to go to a country that will receive her and the affairs are made easy then it is obligatory upon her to leave and she does not need a mahram. But if the harms outweigh the benefits, then I advise her to stay until it is made possible for her to leave that indecent and disbelieving country.

So she must look into her affair, if a safe place and route are found for her to get to this country that she would like to, and within it are those who will receive her amongst her sisters who have preceeded her with their husbands to these places, then there is no harm in that.

But if she is cannot arrive except with difficulty and by placing herself in harms way – even though she means well, the harms may transpire to be greater on the way, in the airports and elsewhere – so she should be patient until Allāh makes it easy for her.

Women are helpless and vulnerable and we are in the end of times as you know, otherwise hijrah (emigrating) from non-Muslim countries is wājib:

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ تَوَفَّىٰهُمُ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ ظَالِمِىٓ أنفُسِهِمْ قَالُوا۟ فِيمَ كُنتُمْۖ قَالُوا۟ كُنَّا مُسْتَضْعَفِينَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِۚ قَالُوٓا۟ َلَمْ تَكُنْ أَرْضُ ٱللَّهِ وَٰسِعَةً فَتُهَاجِرُوا۟ فِيهَاۚ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ مَأْوَىٰهُمْ جَهَنَّمُۖ وَسَآءَتْ مَصِيرًا

Indeed, those whom the angels take [in death] whilst wronging themselves – [the angels] will say, “In what [condition] were you?” They will say: “We were oppressed in the land.” The angels will say: “Was Allāh’s land not spacious [enough] for you to emigrate in?” For those, their abode is Hell – and what an evil destination.(An-Nisa’ 4:97)

إِلَّا ٱلْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ مِنَ ٱلرِّجَالِ وَٱلنِّسَآءِ وَٱلْوِلْدَٰنِ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ حِيلَةً وَلَا يَهْتَدُونَ سَبِيلًا

Except for the oppressed among men, women and children who cannot devise a plan nor are they directed to a way.(An-Nisa’ 4:98)

So it is obligatory upon whoever is able to make hijrah and unable to establish their religion in a disbelieving country to leave from their midst, man or woman.

Women did indeed make hijrah in the time of The Prophet ﷺ – without mahārim – to the Prophet ﷺ, so a mahram is not a condition for the woman making hijrah, this is for other than the woman making hijrah.

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Answered by: Shaykh Abū Bilāl al-Ḥaḍramī (May Allāh preserve him)

Source : https://t.me/abubilalhami/7887

Translated by: Abū Sufyān Samuel ibn Daniel Al-Britāni Al-Ghāni