Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

I am a 55 year old lady. I am intending to perform the Hajj thos year (2004). I have a Son who is married and has two children. He says he is unable to accompany me for the Hajj piligrimage. However my niece (Sister`s Daughter) and her husband are going for the Hajj this year. My question is wether my niece`s husband is a Mahram and wether i can perform the Hajj with them. I have a very close relationship with my niece and her husband whom i regard as a son.

Was Salaam

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Answer:

Hajj with niece

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah Subhanah has made it obligatory duty of every believer who is an adult, sane, and has the necessary means of might and means to travel to the Sacred Mosque, to perform the Hajj pilgrimage at least once in his/her lifetime.

There are several exceptions to the above obligatory duty, and one amongst them is that if a woman cannot find a mehram to accompany her to the pilgrimage, Hajj would not be obligatory upon her.

Your Question: My question is wether my niece`s husband is a Mahram and wether i can perform the Hajj with them.

A neice’s husband cannot be considered a mehram in Shariah; but considering your age and in the absence of arranging a male mehram to accompany you to the pilgrimage, in the opinion of most scholars it would be acceptable and legal for you to accompany your niece and her husband to the Hajj pilgrimage.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan