My mother is going on Umrah with her sister and brother in-law. My mother is 50 years old. Is it right to go with her brother in-law?

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.

The woman's husband is not Mahram to her sister. The scholars have different opinions as regards the travel of a woman to perform obligatory Hajj or ‘Umrah without a Mahram.

-The Hanafi and Hambali Schools of jurisprudence are of the view that it is unlawful for a woman to do so, and she is considered as being unable to perform Hajj or ‘Umrah.

-The Maaliki School of jurisprudence is of the view that if a woman does not have a Mahram, or if her Mahram refuses to accompany her, or if he is unable to do so, then it is lawful for her to go to Hajj or ‘Umrah if accompanied by a trustworthy group of women and if she can control herself.

-The Shaafi'i School of jurisprudence is of the opinion that it is lawful for the woman to travel if accompanied by trustworthy women even if she has a fit Mahram.

-There is a narration from Ahmad that differentiates between an old and a young lady. He permitted an old lady to go if accompanied by a trustworthy group of women.

To conclude, the ideal is that the woman travels with her husband or another male Mahram of hers. If she does not find one, she can travel with a trustworthy group of women. No doubt that the sister and her husband are better than the group of trustworthy women.

Allah knows best.