Women's Travel

Question for women to travel without a mahram sparks debate

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm ...

Jeddah - Saudi cleric Sheikh Abdul Mohsen main Bin Nasser Al-Obaikan views on allowing women to travel freely without a mahram (a male relative with whom marriage is forbidden) has generated debate in Saudi society.
Al-Obaikan, a member of the Council of Senior Islamic Scholars, and advise the Department of Justice, in a statement to Al-Hayat Arabic newspaper on Dec. 22 said it found in its recent research on the travel of women without a mahram it is "permitted" in Islam for a woman to travel alone without being accompanied by a mahram only when she feels safe.
Al-Obaikan published his views on his website saying further research on the subject has made him convinced that women can travel without a mahram or without the consent of her guardian if she feels it is secure.
Several Shoura (Consultative) Council members and business felt encouraged to act on the fatwa issued by Sheikh Al-Obaikan. Shoura members have encouraged open debate on the issue within the Council.
"This is a very important step to begin. If we can eliminate this obstacle, our movement will be much easier, "said Aziza Mansour, businesswoman and owner of Aziza Mansour Company for real estate.
"I need to travel several times a month, but whenever I have to take permission from my husband's brother that my husband died several years ago," she said. "The existing regulations on women to make my travel business travel difficult and delayed many of my business transactions," she added.
Mansour called the Shura Council to remove this obstacle and to a system that allows women over 35 years or so to travel without seeking the consent of her male guardian.
Mr. Talal Al-Bakri, chairman of the Social Affairs Committee of the Shoura Council, hopes that the system could be discussed within the Council. "I'll be the first to vote for him," he said.
Al-Bakri added that Sheikh Al-Obaikan has been invited to discuss his views at the meeting of the Shoura Council.
Dr. Fadel Sadaqa, president of the International Political Relations in the Shura Council, also said he would vote for the proposed new rules on travel for women when it is put to the vote of the Shura Council.
An academic has also advanced the cause of a system allowing the woman to travel without guradian men if she travels by air and no Halva (proximity) between it and the other men in the robbery.
"The fatwa allowing women to travel without a husband if she ensures that she will not sit next to a man," said Dr Ahmad Al-Sheaibi, professor of sociology at the University of Islamic King Saud in Riyadh.
There are dissenting voices as well. "This fatwa is not acceptable at all," said Edward Felt own political writer and president of Al-Bidaia Group Holding Company, the first Saudi company owned by a woman.
"A woman can not ensure its security on board, but not after landing and arriving at the new destination," she argued. "Although I am a business woman and I need to travel to several countries The joint system does not bother me, "she added.

It does not matter what Muslim women want today, we should not go against Allah (subhanna wa ta'ala). We do not know better then Allah (Subhanna wa ta'ala). It is just bad in the beginning "feminist modern" Muslim women who do not seem like the laws stated in the Quran and the Hadith of Muhammad (Salla Allahu Alhai Wa Salam) who want to act as Allah (wa ta'ala Subhanna) astaghirfullah and change its legislation.