Hajj is a spiritual journey that Muslims perform in the month of Dhul Hijjah every year. This journey is considered the most divine and spiritual in the eyes of Muslim. Hajj being the fifth pillar of Islam is obligatory on every Muslim who is healthy and financially able to support the journey. However, there are situations where women are alone and have no one to perform Hajj with. So, in this article, we will discuss Hajj for women in detail.
Is Hajj fard for women?
Hajj is obligatory for a woman under the following conditions:
A woman must be physically and financially stable to perform the Hajj pilgrimage.
One of the conditions for a woman to perform Hajj is the accompaniment of a Mahram during Hajj.
If the woman is not offering Hajj with her husband, she needs the consent of her husband.
These are the conditions under which a woman must perform Hajj.
What is meant by mahram?
A mahram can be husband and a non-marriageable man which means the blood relations of women or males that she cannot marry. For instance,
- Father
- Brother
- Son
- Uncle (paternal and maternal)
- Nephew
Requirements:
- The mahram requirements are the following:
- The mahram must be a Muslim.
- The mahram must be sane.
- The mahram must be physically healthy and must be able to accompany their women during Hajj.
What are the rulings for women with mahram?
A woman cannot perform Hajj alone. It is better if she finds a mahram who accompanies her during Hajj. However, there are conditions where a woman doesn’t have a mahram in that case many women perform Hajj with a group of women. This practice is not preferred.
In Surah An-Nisa verse 23 Allah says:
“And marry not those whom your fathers married, except what has already passed; indeed, it was shameful and most hateful, and an evil way.”
This verse lists the prohibited marriage relationship in Islam.
Hadith:
“A woman cannot travel except with a mahram.” (Sahih Bukhari)
Female Hajj ruling:
Ihram and clothing:
For Ihram, women can wear any kind of cloth, they do not have specific pieces of clothing for Ihram. The dress for Ihram must be loose, thick and must not resemble men’s clothing. Moreover, during Ihram, women are prohibited from perfume, nail clipping and hair removal.
Tawaf and Sayi:
Women donot have to jog or walk quickly during Tawaf and Sayii, they can just walk during these rituals.
Arafah:
Women must spend their day in Arafah on 9th of Dhul Hijjah.
Rami al Jamarat:
Stoning the devil is also an important ritual during Hajj and women must participate in it.
Crowding with men:
Women must avoid crowding places with men like Black stone. They must avoid more interaction with men.
What is the Islamic pilgrimage for females without Mahram?
Some women traveling for Hajj often have issues with mahram availability. In this condition, some scholars permit a woman to perform Hajj without a mahram with a group of trusted women and if the journey is guaranteed to be safe.
On the other hand, other scholars are certain that mahram is obligatory.
Let’s have a detailed look:
- The scholar Yusuf al- Qardhawi believes that if a woman is safe during the Hajj journey, and the company is trustworthy and reliable then she can perform Hajj without a mahram.
- The Maliki School of thoughts also permits a woman to perform Hajj in the absence of a mahram if accompanied by a large safe group.
- The Hanafi thought of school does not permit a woman to travel for Hajj without a Mahram or with a group of women.
Therefore, among women’s Hajj conditions having a mahram plays an important part and that you must still consult an Islamic scholar before you plan to visit the house of Allah under special conditions.
What are the exemptions of Islamic pilgrimage for females?
In Islam there are certain exemptions for women regarding the obligation of Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages:
- Menstruation and postpartum bleeding
- Insanity
- Severe illness or disability
- Financial hardships
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Old age
- Fear of safety for
Moreover, females must consult Islamic scholar or authorities regarding specific exemptions, mahram issue and if any other condition arises. Understanding whether Hajj is compulsory for women involves not just Islamic rulings but also practical considerations like Hajj travel charges from Pakistan (2025), which may influence a woman’s ability to perform Hajj.