Age of Mahram and Women’s Travel
This archive is free and reader-funded.Donate to keep it online
Question
You mentioned that when a girl reaches seven years of age, it becomes unlawful for a man to be alone with her. Does this mean that it is permissible for a woman to travel with her [h: male] mahram when he reaches seven years of age?Answer
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيمالحمد لله رب العالمين و صلى الله على سيدنا محمد و على آله و صحبه و سلم أما بعد
It is permissible for a woman to travel with a [h: male] pubescent or adolescent (Ar. murahiq) mahram who is competent [m: enough] such that she is safe with him. An adolescent is someone who is close to reaching puberty with respect to its average age, which is close to fifteen [m: lunar] years (Tuhfa, 7.197). A seven year old boy, therefore, would not fulfill this criteria. Allah knows best.
Amjad Rasheed
Amman, Jordan
(Translated by Moustafa Elqabbany and Hamza Karamali)
السؤال : ذكرتم أنه إذا بلغت بنتُ سبع سنين يحرم الخلوة بها للرجل ، فهل هذا يعني أنه يجوز للمرأة أن تسافر مع مَحْرمها إذا بلغ سبعَ سنين ؟ الجواب : يجوز للمرأة السفرُ مع مَحْرَم بالغٍ أو مراهقٍ له حَذَاقَة تأمنُ معه ، والمراهقُ هو من قارب البلوغَ باعتبار غالب سنِّه وهو قرب الخمسة عشر كما في "التحفة" (7/197) ، وعليه فابنُ سبعِ سنين لا يكون كذلك ، والله أعلم .
This answer was published by SunniPath and is preserved as written. Rulings can depend on circumstances; for your own situation, consult a qualified scholar.
Comments
No comments yet.