Saudi Arabia: Women Pilgrims Can Now Perform Hajj Or Umrah Without Male Guardian

An announcement was made by Saudi Arabia's Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, that women travelling to the country can now do the pilgrimage without a mahram (a male guardian).

This announcement was made during a press conference that was held at the Kingdom’s Embassy in Cairo, according to reports.

Ahmed Saleh Halabi, the advisor of Hajj and Umrah Services, said, it is now permissible for a woman to perform Hajj or Umrah without a mahram. He added, “The supervisor of fatwa at Al-Azhar Al-Sharif in Egypt, Abbas Shoman, declared last March that a woman is allowed to perform Hajj and Umrah without an accompanying mahram,” Arab News reported.

Writer Faten Ibrahim Hussein, the former adviser to the Minister of Hajj, said, “Allowing women to perform Umrah without the condition of a mahram makes life easier for them because many have difficult social conditions and may not find a mahram, or it may cost them a lot, while they are eager to perform Umrah.”

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Security For Women

Hussein also highlighted security and full protection arrangements for women. She said, “Security has extended throughout the Kingdom and in all means of transportation and at ports, giving women full protection. Moreover, strong infrastructure has been established in legislation, including the anti-harassment system.”

“There are deterrent penalties for anyone who may contemplate breaking the law. In addition, surveillance cameras are obligatory in vital areas, including airports, border crossing ports, the Grand Mosque, the Prophet’s Mosque and others. Thus, a woman is safe, especially when she is in good company with other women,” she added.

Further, Hussein talked about how women no longer need to feel fear to come without a mahram. She said, “There are many women who come to the Kingdom to work without a mahram, and there are no significant incidents, thanks to the security we live in. There is no fear for women to come without a mahram because the reason for that no longer exists.(sic)”

Before this, it was not permissible for a Muslim woman to travel to Hajj without a mahram (men who are related to them).

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