Can Pakistani women perform Hajj without mehram? The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has granted women conditional permission to perform the Hajj pilgrimage without a mehram (close male relative).
The CII’s conclusion is based on the Fiqah-e-Jafria, Maliki, and Shafi’i schools of thought, which recognize the Shariat provision enabling women to independently conduct the yearly Islamic pilgrimage.
Can Pakistani women perform Hajj without mehram?
The Ministry of Religious Affairs sought the CII’s opinion on the matter, and a spokesperson for the council explained that if a woman’s parents or husband consent, she can perform Hajj without a mehram; however, a woman still requires a mehram for Hajj according to the Hanafi and Hanbali schools of thought.
According to the CII spokeswoman, ladies should travel with a trustworthy group of other female pilgrims to safeguard their safety and security, and the Ministry of religious affairs should properly check the group before issuing authorization for the holy journey.
Last year, Saudi Arabia also declared that women from all over the world will be able to attend Umrah and Hajj without a mehram. This reform aims to make it easier for women to participate in these sacred pilgrimages, especially those who face adverse social situations or have difficulty locating a mehram.
Pakistan has a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Hajj 2023. It should be noted that a 50% quota had been set aside for the Sponsorship Scheme, which was a particular facility provided to Hajj pilgrims seeking foreign cash from overseas in the religious affairs ministry’s dedicated dollar account.
Also read: Pakistani Hajj pilgrims to be refunded Rs 55,000: Here’s how to collect the amount
The government had set Hajj fees for this year at Rs1.175 million per pilgrim, 68% more than the previous year’s charges, which appeared to be a reason for many Muslims to forgo undertaking the pilgrimage amid increasing inflation.
It is worth noting that this is the first time Saudi Arabia has welcomed a large number of pilgrims, approximately 2.3 million after epidemic restrictions were abolished. Only those between the ages of 18 and 65 who were fully vaccinated or immunized against the virus and did not suffer from chronic conditions were permitted to visit the country during the 2022 Hajj season.
