The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has allowed Pakistani women to perform Hajj without a Mahram, given certain conditions. This decision was given in response to the Ministry of Religious Affairs’ queries.
The CII clarified that the Jafri, Maliki, and Shafii schools of thought in Sharia law allow women to perform Hajj without a Mahram. According to these interpretations, women may embark on the pilgrimage if they have the permission of their parents or husband and if there are no anticipated dangers or wrongdoings during their journey.
However, the Hanafi and Hanbali fiqh hold a different view, stating that a woman is not obliged to perform Hajj if she does not have a Mahram.
Conditions Set by the Ministry of Religious Affairs
Before a woman is allowed to proceed to Hajj without a Mahram, the Ministry of Religious Affairs must carefully scrutinize the group with which she plans to travel. The council suggests that women should only be allowed to go on the pilgrimage after the group members have been verified to be trustworthy and honest. The Ministry of Religious Affairs sought the council’s viewpoint on this matter.
Changes in Saudi Arabia’s Rules
Last year, Saudi Arabia declared that women worldwide could perform Hajj and Umrah without a male guardian or a Mahram (blood relative). This groundbreaking announcement by the Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, ended a decades-long rule by the Kingdom.
Hajj and Umrah Services Adviser Ahmed Saleh Halabi stated that women can perform Hajj or Umrah without a Mahram if accompanied by “trustworthy women or a secure company.” This aligns with the views of Maliki and Shafi’i scholars.
“The supervisor of fatwa at Al-Azhar Al-Sharif in Egypt, Abbas Shoman, declared in 2021 that a woman is allowed to perform Hajj and Umrah without an accompanying Mahram,” said Halabi.
In addition, Faten Ibrahim Hussein, a former adviser to the Minister of Hajj, expressed that allowing women to perform Umrah without the need for a Mahram simplifies their lives, as many women face challenging social conditions, may not have a Mahram, or may find it costly to arrange for one, even while they are keen to perform Umrah.
 has permitted Pakistani women to perform Hajj without a Mahram under certain conditions. This is seen as a progressive move, aligning with last year's decision by Saudi Arabia to allow women worldwide to perform Hajj and Umrah without a male guardian. Find out more about this significant decision){kind=link}