Mahram

What Does Mahram Mean in Detail?

The concept of Mahram in travel originates from the hadith: 'No woman should travel except with a Mahram' (Bukhari and Muslim). A Mahram relationship is established through three means: blood kinship (father, grandfather, son, grandson, brother, uncle, nephew), marriage (husband, father-in-law, stepson, son-in-law), or breastfeeding (milk-brother, milk-father, etc.). The scholars differ on whether a Mahram is an absolute requirement for a woman to perform Haji. The Hanafi and Hanbali schools generally require a Mahram for any journey exceeding the travel distance (approximately 80 km), meaning that without a Mahram, Haji is not yet wajib upon the woman even if she has the financial means. The Shafi'i school allows a woman to travel for Haji with a group of trustworthy women without a Mahram. The Maliki school is the most lenient, allowing a woman to travel for wajib Haji with a trustworthy group even without any Mahram. Saudi authorities have relaxed Mahram requirements in recent years, allowing women aged 45 and above to perform Haji without a Mahram if traveling in an organized group.