Q: Please advise on the following situation:
My wife has one sister, who is younger than her and unmarried. Their mother passed away last year. Her sister is working and currently stays alone.
My wife has asked if her sister can join us on holiday as she has no one to travel with.
Furthermore, my wife has proposed that if I do not agree to her sister joining us on holiday, she will have no option but to travel alone with her sister and our children to either Durban or Cape Town.
My wife does not feel comfortable leaving her sister alone at home, nor does she feel comfortable with her sister travelling alone.
Please advise if any of these options put forward by my wife are permissible. Are there any other options that can be considered?
A: It is not permissible for a woman to travel the distance of 78 km or more without a mahram accompanying her. Severe warnings have been sounded in the Mubaarak Ahaadith for a woman travelling without a mahram.
Hence, it is not permissible for your sister in law to join you all on the safr without being accompanied by her mahram. If she joins you all on the safr, then she will be sinful and you and your wife will also be sinful.
Similarly, it is not permissible for your wife to travel alone with her sister when both do not have a mahram accompanying them. You should educate your wife regarding the laws of Islam in this regard.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
Answered by:
Checked & Approved: