The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "A woman should not travel for more than three days except with a Dhi-Mahram (i.e. a male with whom she cannot marry at all, e.g. her brother, father, grandfather, etc.) or her own husband.)"
Hadith Text & Context
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "A woman should not travel for more than three days except with a Dhi-Mahram (i.e. a male with whom she cannot marry at all, e.g. her brother, father, grandfather, etc.) or her own husband."
This hadith is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari and establishes a fundamental principle in Islamic law regarding women's travel.
Scholarly Commentary
The scholars explain that this prohibition serves to protect women's honor and safety during travel, as journeys in earlier times involved considerable risk. The "three days" refers to the distance equivalent to three days' travel by traditional means.
A Dhi-Mahram must be a mature, sane Muslim male who is permanently prohibited from marrying the woman due to blood relation, breastfeeding, or marriage ties. The husband holds a special status as both mahram and guardian.
This ruling applies to voluntary travel. Necessary travel for obligatory Hajj or urgent medical treatment may have different rulings according to some scholars.
Legal Implications
The majority of scholars consider this prohibition binding, making such travel without a mahram religiously impermissible (haram).
Modern scholars have debated whether conditions of safe modern travel affect this ruling, with some permitting travel in secure circumstances while others maintain the original prohibition.
The wisdom behind this ruling includes protecting women from harm, preserving modesty, and maintaining proper gender interactions according to Islamic principles.