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Fatwa CenterRuling on a Woman Traveling Without a Mahram After Embracing Islam
Question
Assalaam aleikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.My question: Is it permissible for me to travel by plane (1-hour flight) to visit my non-Muslim family to meet my 9-month-old son when my husband cannot accompany me and I have no mahram? The visit is important to maintain family ties and avoid worsening relations or negative views of Islam.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad, ﷺ, is His Slave and Messenger.
We say to the sister who is asking: Congratulations to you for Allah having guided you to Islam, for it is the true religion of Allah, and He does not accept any religion other than it. The Most High says: {And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers.} [Qu'ran 3:85]
Know that the greatest blessing of Allah upon a person is His guidance to Islam, as He says: {Rather, Allah has conferred favor upon you that He has guided you to faith.} [Qur'an 49:17]
As for your question: The majority of scholars are of the view that it is not permissible for a woman to travel without a mahram except in cases of necessity, such as migrating from a land of disbelief to a land of Islam. However, some scholars have permitted travel in situations of safety and security, especially if the journey is for an act of obedience, such as maintaining family ties and similar purposes.
Therefore, you may follow the opinion of those scholars who allow such travel without a mahram, particularly in light of the circumstances you mentioned in your question.
We also strongly advise you to make every serious effort to take your son with you so that you may raise him upon Islam in both belief and practice. You should not leave him in the care of your non-Muslim family if you are able to rescue him from a non-Muslim environment, for you are responsible before Allah regarding him if you have the ability to protect and guide him.
Allah Knows best.
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