Riyad as-Salihin · Chapter 179

Prohibiting Woman from Traveling Alone

باب تحريم سفر المرأة وحدها

This chapter gathers the Prophet's guidance that a woman should not undertake travel alone, but in the company of a Mahram, a close relative she could never marry, such as a husband, father, or brother. The concern is protection and safety on the road.

The detail in these reports is striking and tender. When one man's duty to an expedition clashed with his wife setting out for Hajj alone, the Prophet (peace be upon him) told him to go with her instead. The broad lesson here is the value Islam places on guarding and accompanying its women; the finer rulings around what counts as a Mahram and the conditions of travel are matters for qualified scholars to detail.

Hadith 989

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏:‏ ‏ "‏لا يحل لامرأة تؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر تسافر مسيرة يوم وليلة إلا مع ذي محرم عليها‏" ‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏ ‏.‏

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "It is not permissible for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to make a journey of one day and night unless she is accompanied by a Mahram (husband or any other relative to whom she is prohibited to marry)." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

In plain words

The Prophet taught that a believing woman should not make a journey of a day and night unless accompanied by a mahram, a close relative she could never marry, such as a husband or other such relation.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 989 In-book reference : Book 7, Hadith 34

Hadith 990

Ibn 'Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:

وعن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما أنه سمع النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول‏:‏ ‏"‏لا يخلون رجل بامرأة إلا ومعها ذو محرم، ولا تسافر المرأة إلا مع ذي محرم‏"‏ فقال له رجل‏:‏ يا رسول الله إن امرأتي خرجت حاجّة، وإني اكتتبت في غزوة كذا وكذا‏؟‏ قال‏:‏ ‏"‏انطلق فحج مع امرأتك‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "No man must not be alone with a woman except in the presence of her (Mahram). No woman should travel except in company of a (Mahram)." A man said: "O Messenger of Allah! I have been enrolled for such and such expedition, and my wife left for Hajj." He (ﷺ) said to him, "Go and perform Hajj with your wife." [Al- Bukhari and Muslim].

In plain words

The Prophet said a woman should not travel except with a mahram, and when a man mentioned he was enrolled for an expedition while his wife had set out for Hajj, he told him to go and perform Hajj with her instead.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 990 In-book reference : Book 7, Hadith 35