Tinjdad, Morocco - In a paper presented at the tenth forum of the Youth of Justice and Development Party held in Rabat from August 24 to 31, Muslim scholar Ahmad Raisouni stated that it is permissible for a woman to travel alone without a "mahram" (i.e., her husband or one of her relatives whom she cannot marry).
According to the Hadith of the Prophet (PBUH), “It is not permissible for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to travel one day’s distance without a mahram.”
However, the leader of the Movement of Unification and Reform, the advocacy arm of the ruling party PJD, said that once a woman is safe in her travel she does not need to be accompanied by a mahram.
In his paper entitled "Renewal of Islamic Thought: Vision and Approach,” Raisouni said, "Women today are travelling for work inside and outside the country. If the travel is safe, then she is allowed to travel alone for education, work or to attend meetings."
Muslim scholars have different interpretations of the Hadith of the Prophet, regarding the prohibition on women travelling alone. Some adhere to the plain language of the Hadith, while others see that the reason behind the prohibition was the lack of safety and security at the time and now because travelling is safe, there is no harm if a woman travels without the company of a mahram.
Ahmad Raisouni, the Deputy Head of the International Union for Muslim Scholars, called for the renewal of Muslim thought and its approach to certain social issues.
Edited by Elisabeth Myers