Question:
What should do a widow or unmarried girl if she has not any male Muslim as a protector to travel or anything else - should she stay at home even if she cannot ? Does she have to leave shopping, learning etc. ? Please, reply to my question, may God bless you. Salam.
Fatwa:
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 is His slave and Messenger.
It is not permissible for a woman to travel except with her husband or Mahram (i.e. unmarriageable relative) as illustrated by the Sunnah of the Prophet .
If a woman has no husband and no Mahram and she is obliged to travel for a necessary matter, like being exposed to death otherwise, or due to a difficulty which she cannot bear if she does not travel, then she may travel with a safe company.
As regards going out when not travelling, then it is not an obligation for her to have a Mahram or husband when going out. It is permissible for a woman to go out without a husband or Mahram.
In principle a woman is required to stay in her own home and not go out unless she has to. Besides, when she goes out, she should observe all religious requirements, like wearing Hijab and the like.
Allah Knows best.
Fatwa answered by:The Fatwa Center at Islamweb