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:

Aslkm,
I want to know that, can a woman travel alone? if yes then how many kilometers she allowed to travel alone, or if not then with whom she can travel if husband is not with him. 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Journey travel of women

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.194 Narrated by Abu Huraira

The Prophet (saws) said, "It is not permissible for a woman, who believes in Allah and the Last Day, to travel for one day and night except with a Mahram."

In light of the above authentic narration of the Prophet (saws), the law of traveling with a male mehram relative is not for all women…. The law is only for those believing women who sincerely believe in Allah and the Last Day! It is not permissible for a believing woman, who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day, to travel a considerable distance which would take more than 24 hours without being accompanied by a male mehram relative.

Thus it is not the number of kilometers or the distance itself which would determine whether it is lawful or unlawful for a believing woman to undertake a journey alone, but rather the time it takes to cover that distance.

The believing woman may travel or undertake a journey which would take more than 24 hours with any male relative of hers, if her husband is not able to accompany her….like her father, her grand-father, her father-in-law, her paternal or maternal uncles, her adult brothers, her adult sons, etc.

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan