Question Summary:
Can a woman travel without a Mahram?

Question Detail:

Since a woman cannot travel with a mahram, what about there is no mahram when she needs to travel. Not only travel, she wants to do normal tour but she has no mahram to take with her. so what would be the proper ruling

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
It is prohibited in Shari’ah for a woman to travel the distance of safar (which is 48 miles or 78 km) without a mahram[1].
Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said:
« لا تسافر المرأة ثلاثا إلا ومعها ذو محرم ».
“A woman cannot travel (a distance of) three days unless she has a mahram with her” (Sahih Muslim #3322)
 
« لا يحل لامرأة تؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر تسافر مسيرة ثلاث ليال إلا ومعها ذو محرم ».
“It is prohibited for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to travel a distance of three nights unless with a mahram” (Sahih Muslim #3324)
 
There are many more narrations regarding this ruling from Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam). In fact, other narrations even state a woman should not travel without her mahram for the distance of two days and even one day. Although the opinion in the Hanafi madhab is that it is forbidden for a woman to travel without her mahram for the abovementioned distance (48 miles), the fuqahaa (jurists) still mention that a woman should not travel without her mahram for distances under 48 miles due to the abundant fitna and immorality nowadays.
The ruling for a woman to travel with a mahram is to safeguard her and also assist her during travels. Travelling nowadays have become even more challenging for Muslims. A woman travelling with a mahram is in her interest.
If out of necessity she needs to travel less than 48 miles, she may do so if proper hijab is observed and with the permission of her husband[2].
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Arshad Ali
Student Darul Iftaa
Trinidad
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
http://www.daruliftaa.net/