Q: Saudia Arabia has announced that women do not need a mahram for umrah or hajj. They can come by their own and perform umrah or hajj. How valid is this fatwa?
My sister has gone without mehram for umrah. There are 10 females and one male (the male is not a mahram for my sister). What is the validity of her umrah? She says that the Saudi government has given a fatwa so she can go without a mahram.
When she comes back, she is planning to go with my mother who is 75 years old without a mahram after 2 months. Only the 2 of them will be going. Can they go according to the new Saudi rule?
Umrah and hajj are now very expensive and spending money and going there just to know that they were not valid feels very sad.
A: The rules that are applied presently are not conforming with the shariah. This is not a fatwa, it is just a political decision. However, it is compulsory that a woman be accompanied by her mahram, irrespective of who says what.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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