The Council of Islamic Ideology has allowed conditional permission to women to go on Hajj without a mehram.
According to a copy of the council’s letter to a Ministry of Religious Affairs inquiry, as per the jurisprudence of Jaafriya, Maliki and Shafi’i, a woman can perform Hajj without a mehram, but this is subject to certain conditions.
A woman who has the companionship of reliable women can go for Hajj. For a woman intending to perform Hajj without a mehram, it is necessary to take permission from her parents and, in case of marriage, her husband.
The council has remarked that a woman who does not fear any threat or danger during the journey to Hajj can go without a mehram.
It has further said that if a woman plans to go for Hajj without a mehram, the Ministry of Religious Affairs should first investigate, and only give permission after scrutinising the group members.
The letter further says that according to Hanafi and Hanbali jurisprudence, Hajj is not obligatory on a woman if a mehram is not available.
