Is it permissible for a woman to work as a demonstrator (معيدة) in a college approximately an hour's distance from her, without a mahram accompanying her, and riding mixed public transportation, knowing that she wears a niqab and tries to avoid men sitting next to her?

The majority of scholars hold that it is not permissible for a woman to travel without a mahram. Some of them made an exception for obligatory Hajj and Umrah when there is a safe company. Others went further, allowing her to travel with a safe company for any journey of obedience. Scholars differed on the prohibited travel distance, but it appears that the prohibition is based on the fear of fitna (temptation/strife).

Ibn Abd al-Barr was of the view that the prohibited travel is any journey where a woman is feared to encounter fitna, regardless of the distance. Al-Hattab al-Ra'ini indicated that voluntary travel is not permissible except with a husband or a mahram if the distance is a day and a night or more. However, al-Baji and al-Zanati made an exception for large caravans and safe company, considering it akin to towns where a woman is permitted to travel without a mahram.

Shaykh Ibn Jibreen stated that the prohibited travel for a woman is a journey of a day and a night. Anything less than that, whether by plane, train, or car, does not fall under the prohibition, as long as the route is safe, the company is trustworthy, there is no khalwa (private seclusion), and the accommodation is suitable.

Accordingly, if the travel exposes the woman to fitna, then it is not permissible except with a mahram. However, if it is safe, there is no harm in it, knowing that it is better for a woman to remain at home.