Saudi Arabia now allows women 45+ to perform حج without a mahram in organized groups; rules vary by country and school of jurisprudence — check your country's current regulations.
The classical Islamic position, based on hadith, is that a woman should not travel the distance requiring shortening نمازs without a mahram — a male relative she cannot marry. This includes her father, brother, son, husband, uncle, nephew, or grandfather. نبی کریم (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) said: 'No woman should travel except with a mahram.' However, scholars have differed on whether this applies specifically to حج when it becomes واجب.
Saudi Arabia has progressively relaxed its administrative requirements. Women aged 45 and above can now perform حج without a mahram if they travel as part of an organized group with other women. Some countries have further relaxed these requirements, allowing women of any adult age to apply for حج without a mahram, provided they travel with a licensed group.
Among the four schools of jurisprudence, the Shafi'i and Maliki schools allow a woman to perform the واجب حج without a mahram if she travels with a trustworthy group of women or trustworthy companions, particularly when the obligation of حج would otherwise go unfulfilled. The Hanafi and Hanbali schools traditionally require a mahram for any journey of this nature. Women should consult their local حج authority for the most current rules in their country.
نبی کریم (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) said: 'No woman should travel except with a mahram, and no man should enter upon a woman unless she has a mahram with her.'
نبی کریم (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) said: 'No woman should travel except with a mahram, and no man should enter upon a woman unless she has a mahram with her.'
Source: Imam al-Nawawi, Al-Majmu; Ibn Qudamah, Al-Mughni
نبی کریم (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) said: 'No woman should travel except with a mahram, and no man should enter upon a woman unless she has a mahram with her.'
Sahih al-Bukhari #3006 (sahih)