Is it Permissible for a Lady to Perform Hajj Alone if She Lives In Saudi Arabia?
Question:
Assalamu Alaykum,
I am currently residing in KSA, working here. My family is in the UK. This year, the Saudi Authorities have only given permission to locals to perform hajj due to the current covid 19 situation. I fit into the category of being a local citizen in KSA. Is it permissible for me to perform hajj with a group of women, providing there is a significantly small amount of hajjis this year? It would be less crowded with social distancing so women will not have the fear of being pushed around.
Answer:
Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.
I pray you are well. I do apologize for the delay in this response.
Yes, performing a Hajj by yourself is permissible and valid. The only issue is travel, which requires a mahram.
Conditions of the Obligation of Performing the Hajj
In order for it to be obligatory for a lady to perform the Hajj, after the financial requirements have been met, she needs a mahram to take her to Mecca, if it is beyond the travelling distance. If it is within the traveling distance she can undertake the journey herself provided it is safe.
The Shafi’i school permits a lady to travel to perform the Hajj if she is in a safe group. This position can be followed on this matter (Zayla’i, Tabyin al Haqa’iq, al Mawsu’a al Kuwaitiyya).
May Allah accept all your worship and grant you the best of both worlds.
Abdul-Rahim
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.
