Yes, Women can perform Umrah without the Mahram after recent interventions that allow pilgrims to apply for an independent Umrah Visa. Umrah is an Islamic obligation that is equally crucial for both men and women to gain maximum spiritual gains. Umrah travel to Saudi Arabia is now more regulated and supervised following recent regulations issued by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. There are different jurisprudence and scholars have different opinions, but recently, some notable scholars are agreed upon that women can now travel alone without any Mahram under certain conditions.
‘Mahram’ is an Arabic word that is used to describe the male relative of a women including all direct ancestors, all direct descendants, and siblings, siblings of parents, grandparents, and further antecedents. Now, Saudi Umrah traveler’s issues with Umrah visas or tourists visa to solo female travelers.
Islamic Jurisprudence related to Mahram policy:
In the past, the women Umrah travelers were at risk, and they needed a Mahram for security purposes. The company of Mahram on the Umrah journey was traditionally accepted for security and protection purposes, as routes were insecure, including deserts, and caravans were frequently exposed to highway robbers, extreme weather, and a lack of law enforcement. Traditionally, the Umrah journey was physically demanding and challenging for difficult routes. In such circumstances, social protection was unpredictable in an unsafe environment. Therefore, it was made obligatory to travel with a Mahram for the Umrah trip.
Recently improvised safety measures:
Saudi Arabia allows women of all ages to perform Umrah without a Mahram using an Umrah visa or a Tourist visa. Qiblatain UK specialized in arranging all-inclusive Umrah packages from UK that include support, protection, and assistance for Umrah pilgrims during the sacred Umrah pilgrimage.
- Visa Processing: The women can travel alone using an Umrah visa, as the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah allows female pilgrims to travel alone.
- Women-only groups: Furthermore, they are suggested to travel in female groups only for privacy and full security.
- Requirement of Age: The Age requirement for female Umrah travelers allowed to travel alone is over the age of 18 years.
- Accommodations: The privacy is fully maintained for female Umrah pilgrim’s traveling alone on a solo Umrah visa. Qiblatain UK ensures to book an Umrah package which includes 4-star and 5-star hotels with female-only QUAD rooms or private suites for ladies only.
- Dedicated Assistance: There are several London Umrah packages at the Qiblatain that offers dedicated Umrah assistance of female guides at each step of the Umrah journey.
Contemporary Scholars perspective for this discussion:
The Hanbali religious scholars lean towards traveling with a Mahram for the sacred Umrah pilgrimage. These scholars believe that it is mandatory for females to travel with a Mahram as per the instructions of the Hadith books. The company of a Mahram in old times justifies:
- A safe and well-organized Umrah journey.
- The Women are traveling for Umrah in a protected environment.
- The Women could have stayed in rest areas with their Mahram during the long and tiring journey.
Modern Scholars view for this discussion:
But with the advent of the latest technology, the Muslim scholars interpret the reason behind having a Mahram during the Umrah journey. They understand that historically, there were no safe modes of transportation, and even the routes after Meeqat were not safe and protected for females. So it was necessary to accompany with Mahram to prevent all types of traveling risks.
Important key points for women traveling alone for Umrah:
There are several considerations that female-only Umrah travelers should ensure to meet for a smooth Umrah pilgrimage. Women of any age are permitted to travel for Umrah alone, but they should follow some protocols for a safe and secure Umrah pilgrimage. Wear modest attire: The female-only pilgrims should wear modest attire that maintain privacy of Umrah travelers. The female should wear the Ihram in subtle colors.
- Perform Tawaf and Sai in low crowds: When female is alone and arrive in the holy Kaaba to perform Umrah, they should choose low crowded times that secure their privacy and low interaction with male pilgrims performing Umrah.
- Maintain communication: The female Umrah pilgrims should maintain communication with female Umrah guides. They should stay in regular contact with all family members and keep all emergency contacts at all times. They should ensure that their mobile application is operating, the messaging service is active, and the GPS tools make communication without any inconvenience.
- Understand the religious obligations: The female-only travelers should understand about all Umrah rituals before they leave home for Umrah travel. They should learn the teachings of Prophet Muhammad PBUH for performing all Umrah rituals.
- Respect the Local rules and Islamic Etiquette: It is very essential for male and female Umrah pilgrims to respect the local rules and Islamic etiquette to visit the sacred places.