Women travelling without a mahram

My question is as a female, am I allowed to travel for work without a mahram? I usually am not required to travel but for some projects in 2014 travel will be required. In most cases it would be from Toronto to Ottawa for an overnight trip. I would be accompanied by a few of my coworkers who are mostly female. In some cases it may also be an overseas trip with a few of my coworkers for 3-4 days. All of this travel of course would be due to work requirements and not for leisure.

Jazakallah khair in advance.

 بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما

We learn through the ahaadith that a woman is not permitted to travel without her husband or a mahram on a journey which is for 3 days or more. The ‘ulama have mentioned that this refers to any journey which is 48 miles or more. Consider the following ahaadith:

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “It is not permissible for a woman who believes in Allah and the Day of Judgment to travel for three days or more unless she is accompanied by her father, son, husband, brother or any other mahram.”

 (Sahih Muslim)

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “A man should not be alone in a room with a woman (to whom he is not related) unless she is accompanied by her mahram and a woman should not travel without a mahram.” 

A man stood up and said, “O prophet of Allah! My wife has left to perform hajj and my name has been drafted to join the army.” 

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Perform hajj with your wife.”

 (Sahih Muslim)

In these ahaadith, the Messenger (may Allah bless him and give him peace) clearly prohibited women from travelling far distances (of 48 miles or more) regardless of the reasoning. Thus, it would not be permissible for women to travel such distances alone, even for work.

والله اعلم

Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala knows best.

Taha Abdulkareem

Approved by Mufti Husain Ahmad Madani