Is it permissible for a wife to travel by car with her husband's friend and his wife for three days to join her husband, who resides abroad, given that the husband cannot afford the price of an airline ticket?

The default ruling is that it is not permissible for a woman to travel without a mahram. However, the Malikis and Shafi'is held that it is permissible for a woman to travel for the obligatory Hajj with a trustworthy company. The Malikis extended this to include every obligatory journey. Some scholars permitted a woman to travel with a trustworthy company for every journey of devotion (qurbah). Those who prohibit it consider it permissible only in cases of necessity that are recognized by Islamic law.

Therefore, there is no harm in a wife traveling with a trustworthy company if she is suffering from her husband's absence, provided that necessary precautions are taken, and the husband is informed of the travel and arrival times.