Mahram
A mahram is a close relative a person cannot marry — a parent, sibling, or child, by blood, marriage, or nursing. The term matters in fatwas on travel, hajj, and mixing between men and women. Not every close relationship counts; the categories are specific and listed in the sources.
Often appears in
See the term in context
Is a woman's travel for study without a mahram – given the availability of safety and avoidance of mixing – considered a sin, especially if there is a need for her medical specialization in her country, and is it permissible to share living expenses with a female roommate who travels without a mahram?
A mahram (unmarriageable kin) is required for a woman's travel, but not for her residence in a country other than her own. A woman can ask one of her mahrams to accompany her on her journey, and then the mahram can…
Is the visit of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to the female companions of our Mother Khadijah, and the visit of Abu Bakr and Umar to Umm Ayman, and Umar carrying food to a widow and orphans, considered unlawful mixing or unlawful seclusion (khalwah)? And is it permissible for me to visit my female relatives to maintain kinship ties or to visit a sick person? And at what age does a child reach the degree of non-mahram (meaning they are no longer considered mahram)?
The impermissibility of khalwa (private seclusion) with a non-mahram woman or mixing with her is established. As for the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) connection with the companions of Khadijah, there is…
What is the ruling on traveling for work with a foreign woman who is not accompanied by a mahram?
A woman should be advised that her travel without a mahram is not permissible Islamically. This is by the consensus of scholars, except in specific cases such as Hajj and Umrah, leaving the land of shirk, or fleeing…
Questions that use it
Is the owner of a travel and tourism agency sinful for transporting women to perform Umrah without a mahram but with a safe companion?
Does the fact that the wives of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, performed Hajj more than once after his death indicate the permissibility for a woman to perform Hajj without a mahram, but with a group of women accompanied by their mahrams?
Is it permissible for me to travel to visit my daughter in the Kingdom and help her with her household affairs, while intending to perform 'Umrah, without a mahram?