The Prophet (sws) is reported to have forbidden women from
travelling without a mahram and has said that they are not allowed to travel
alone. The period of this journey is mentioned in some narratives to be one, in
some others to be two and still others to be three days and nights respectively.
This prohibition, it needs to be appreciated, is not an absolute one. It is a
precautionary prohibition meant to protect a person from harm. Its addressees
are also the individuals of a society in their personal capacity, and is not
addressed to state authorities. Moreover, it is evident that such directives
relate to circumstances. Keeping in view the importance of a lady’s chastity and
modesty in Islam, it was essential that they be stopped from travelling alone
because of the circumstances which prevailed in Arabia in the times of the
Prophet (sws). People in those times used to travel on foot or on horses and
camels. Destinations which today can be reached in hours were accessed in those
days in weeks and at times in months. Passengers would travel alone or in
caravans and sometimes would even have to encounter forests and deserts on their
way. At night time, they would have to spend the night under the open sky with
other members of the caravan or in rest-houses of unknown cities. If in these
circumstances, women were asked to travel with a mahram in order to protect them
and to guard their reputation, every upright person can easily understand the
wisdom behind this directive.
The current times, on the other hand, have revolutionized
the means of transport. Distances which were covered in months are now covered
in hours. There are extra-ordinary arrangements to protect people in buses,
trains and aeroplanes. Great changes have also come about in rest-houses and
hotels. A hundred years ago, people were hesitant in sending their sisters and
daughters from one village to another. Today, however, one is not even hesitant
in sending them to Europe and America. The journey to Makkah for the purpose of
hajj too has become secure to the ultimate extent and women can safely travel
with their women of acquaintance to Arabia to offer the rites of hajj. This
great change in circumstances entails that this directive should not relate to
current forms of travel, and women be allowed to travel alone or in groups in
any way they can keeping in view their needs in case there is no danger
envisaged in this travelling. However, they must always keep in consideration
the fact that their honour must remain protected in all circumstances, and they
must not show any negligence in this regard while leaving their houses. If they
believe in God and His Prophet (sws), they should not be indifferent in this
matter.
(Translated from Maqāmāt by Shehzad
Saleem)