Deoband: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s claim that his government has removed the restriction of having a male guardian or ‘mahram’ every time a Muslim woman wants to go on Haj pilgrimage, has become the topic of debate among Muslim community.
Secretary Darul Uloom Deoband Maulana Mufti Abul-Qasim Nomani said Islam prohibits Muslim women from going to Holy pilgrimage without ‘mahram’. He said he doesn’t want to comment upon central government’s stand, because the comment made by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is based on administrative affairs and political diplomacy. Hence instead of commenting upon that we can only give Shariah ruling regarding that, he maintained. It is clearly mentioned in the Hadeeth that women cannot travel without ‘mahram’. If government permits women to go for pilgrimage without mahram it will be direct interference in religious affairs, government should not do so.
As for the women who wish to go to Hajj without mahram, Mufti Abul Qasim Nomani said, it is no doubt violation of Islamic shariah. Hence even if the government gives permission, Muslim women should avoid doing so. He said Muslims never want to perform any religious obligation by adopting non-shariah ways.