Female Pilgrims For Hajj No Longer Need Male Guardians To Accompany them: Report

After decades together, women pilgrims taking Hajj or Umrah in the Islamic country Saudi Arabia, do not require male counterparts or mahram to accompany them anymore. Earlier, it was mandatory for the male guardian to accompany the female Hajji. 

Hajj and Umrah Services Adviser Ahmed Saleh Halabi in a report by Arab News, said, "It is now acceptable for a woman to perform Hajj or Umrah without a mahram, accompanied by trustworthy women or secure company to perform Hajj or Umrah."

Ibrahim Hussein, a former adviser to the minister of Hajj, added that women already face hurdles and have tough socioeconomic situations. Women performing Umrah without the company of a male relative will simplify their lives a little. To find a mahram or take Hajj could be expensive, while they are keen to perform Umrah. 

New Hajj Rules For Women

The statement was given during a news conference held at the Kingdom's embassy in Cairo, to put an end to the debate over a mahram, whether he is necessary to accompany a woman or not.

Security has increased across the Kingdom to put this decision in place. The modes of transportation and ports are providing women with complete safety. Likewise, a robust infrastructure, including an anti-harassment framework, has been enforced in legislation, the report stated. 

Further, Hussein pointed out that there are deterrent punishments for anyone thinking about breaching the law. Moreover, security cameras are required in critical sites like airports, border crossing ports, the Grand Mosque, the Prophet's Mosque, and others. So that woman can feel secure, especially when another woman is accompanying her. 

Earlier, no female Hajji was allowed to take the pilgrimage alone. The strict rules of hajj claim women who want to do Hajj mandatorily needs a male counterpart, that too someone who is related. Not someone unrelated. 

Suggested Reading- 86% of Women Going On Hajj Without A Meharam Are From Kerala