Is it permissible for a male colleague of a young American Muslim woman residing in Jeddah to accompany her to perform Umrah, with a driver or by public transport, given the approval of her guardian and her paternal aunt, and knowing that she has no other mahram and will not have another opportunity to perform Umrah?

Some scholars have permitted women to travel for obligatory Hajj and Umrah without a محرم (unmarriageable kin) if they find a trustworthy company. This is the choice of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah for every journey of obedience. The fatwa's issuers believe that it is not permissible for a woman to travel with her colleague. However, if she finds a trustworthy company of righteous people, she may travel with them for Umrah, even if there is no محرم among them. Otherwise, she is not religiously obligated to perform Umrah.