Hajj of a woman

Hajj is obligatory for a woman providing that she is accompanied by her husband or some other person whom it is, forever, impossible for her to marry. There is no consensus among scholars as to the prerequisites for her companions. However, he must escort her in her travel to Hajj and back home. Abu Hanifa, Al-Hasan, Annakha'e, Ishaq, Ibn Al Mondher and Ahmad are of the opinion that a woman is obligated to perform Hajj on the condition that she is accompanied by her husband or a Muhrim.
Otherwise, she is considered as one of those whom Allah has not given the means to perform Hajj. If a woman performed Hajj notwithstanding, she is guilty of sin. However, her Hajj is considered valid. It is reported that Ahmad is of the opinion that a woman can perform Hajj without a Muhrim, she can travel in the company of trusted companions. 

Ibn Serean, Malik, Al Awzaa'e and Ash-Shaf'i are of the same opinion which does not hold the accompaniment of a Muhrim as obligatory for the validity of Hajj. It is allowed for a woman to perform Hajj with trustworthy companions. Malik followed a middle course for he was of the opinion that it is allowed for a woman to perform Hajj without a Mahram provided that she is accompanied by a group of trustworthy women. Ash-Shaf'i was of the opinion that it is allowed for a woman to travel to perform Hajj accompanied by a free trustworthy Muslim woman if she has no husband, Mahram or trustworthy group of women to travel with. Al Awzaa'e stated that a woman is allowed to perform Hajj with a group of women. Needless to say, these rulings dealt with obligatory Hajj. A woman's Mahram is the one who can never legally marry her e.g. her son, brother, grandson or nephew. A Mahaim must not be an evildoer, he must also be an adult or at least an adolescent. 

The Muslim woman must meet the expenses of her companion e.g. husband or Mahram, who went through the hardships of travel for her sake. A group of scholars agreed that if she cannot afford the expenses of a companion e.g. her husband or Mahram, she is not obligated to perform Hajj. A husband or the Mahram is not obligated to travel with a woman so that she might perform Hajj if there is no one else but him even if he is to travel at her expense. No one is obliged to give up his convenience and go through the hardships of Hajj so that another person might do what is required unless he is legally obligated, rather, he has the choice. A husband should not forbid his wife from proceeding for obligatory Hajj. He has no right to prevent her from doing what is her obligatory duty. He may prevent her from performing Hajj voluntarily. It is desirable for a woman to seek her husband's permission for the prescribed Hajj. If he grants her his permission, she may leave for Hajj but even if he refuses, she may still proceed for Hajj. The same applies to Hajj in fulfillment of a vow. Imam Ahmad was of the opinion that it is unlawful for a widow in 'Edda - the prescribed time in which she must abstain from marriage for four months and ten days after the death of her husband - to perform Hajj.

Hajj And Umrah Guides, Pilgrimage Essentials, Mecca & Medina Topics Links:

Advice To Pilgrims | A Step by step Hajj and 'Umrah | Adhkar (Pertaining to the remembrance of Allah) | A Lasting Word For Hajj And 'Umrah | An Account of the Miqat | An Account of visiting the Prophet's Mosque | Ayaam at-Tashreeq | Binding on the pilgrim to refrain from sins | Command about the Menstruating and similar women | Conditional Ihram | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day One | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Two | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Three | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Four | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Five | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Six | Day of Arafah | Day to Day Activities of Hajj | Dhabh | Duties of pilgrims at 'Arafah | Entering Mecca | Entering Al-Masjid-al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque) and Tawaf | Errors Often Committed by Pilgrims | Etiquette of Ihram | Etiquette of Visiting the Prophet's (P.B.U.H) Grave | Farewell Pilgrimage of the Messenger of Allah | Farewell Tawaf | Farewell Tawaf is binding on everyone except the menstruating and women with post childbirth bleeding | Fixed time for Hajj | Fixed time for Hajj | Four Khutbahs in Hajj | Hajj in Pre-Islamic Times | Hajj of a woman | Hajj, Umrah & Ziyarah At a Glance | Halq or Qass | Halq or Qasr: Shaving or Clipping | Ihram | Ihram for youngsters | Ihram: Introduction And Significance | Innovations of `Arafah | Innovations Before Ihraam | Innovations of Hajj, `Umra and Visiting Madinah | Innovations of Ihraam and Talbiyyah, etc. | Innovations of Muzdalifah | Innovations of Sacrifice and Shaving the Head | Innovations of Sa'y Between Safaa and Marwah | Innovations of Stoning | Innovations of Tawaaf | Innovations of Visiting Madinat-ul-Munawwarah | Innovations of Visiting Bait-ul-Maqdis | Innovations: Various Innovations | Istilaam | Kinds of Ihram | Leaving Arafah to spend night in Al Muzdalefah | Many `Umrahs after Hajj is not encouraged by the Shari`ah | Maqaam Ibraaheem | Meeqaat | Merits of Hajj | Merits of 'Umrah | Minaa | Neglecting and delaying the throwing of pebbles | No Specific Supplication for Tawaf and Sa'y | Not allowed to shave the beard | Not obligatory to visit the Prophet's Mosque | Objective of Hajj - To seek the Divine Pleasure | Obligations during Hajj and Umrah | Performing Hajj on behalf of others | Permitted and Forbidden things in the State of Ihram | Pilgrim with Sacrificial Animal in the month of Hajj should intend Qiran (accompanied Hajj) and the one | Pillars of Hajj | Prayers at Arafah | Preparations for Hajj, Umrah and travelling to the holy lands | Preparing for Hajj or 'Umrah | Prerequisites and Sunnahs of valid Tawaf | Ramy | Reaching Miqat at a Time other than the Hajj Season | Regulations Concerning Hady (Sacrificial animals) | Restrictions of Ihram | Rites, obligations and Sunnahs of Umrah | Sa'y | Sa'y between Safa and Marwah | Sa'y and its rituals | Sacrificial animals | Shaving or clipping hair | Sunnah and allowed throwing | Sunnahs of Tawaf | Supplication at the beginning of the journey | Supplication on entering the Mosque | Supplications at Arafah | Supplications: Some All-Inclusive Supplications | Supplications: Some Supplications which may Be Recited At 'Arafat, at the Sacred Sites, and at Other Places of Supplication | Talbeeyah | Tawaaf | Tawaaf al-Ifaadah | Throwing Al Jemar | Throwing pebbles on behalf of other people | Types of Hajj | Umrah | Veiling and giving up the display of beauty is compulsory for women | Verdict on spending the night at Mina | Visitation of the Prophet's Mosque | Visiting Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi | Visiting Quba Mosque and Al-Baqi' cemetery | What a Pilgrim should do when he reaches the Miqat | What Is Required of the Pilgrims | What is allowed to a Muhrim | Where to pick the pebbles from and the number and size of pebbles | Woman's Hajj with Mahram, expenses of Hajj, taking husband's permission | Woman may enter into the Ihram in any dress | Wuqoof 'Arafaat | Wuqoof Muzdalifah | Zamzam