The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) in Pakistan has conditionally permitted women to perform Hajj "without a mehram," according to details revealed in a letter responding to an inquiry from the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
The CII outlined conditions based on the jurisprudence of Jaafriya, Maliki, and Shafi'i, stating that a woman can undertake Hajj without a mehram if accompanied by reliable women, subject to certain conditions.
These include obtaining permission from parents and, if married, the husband. The woman should not fear any threat or danger during the journey, and the Ministry of Religious Affairs must scrutinize and permit the journey after investigating the group members. The letter also noted that, according to Hanafi and Hanbali jurisprudence, Hajj is not obligatory for a woman if a mehram is unavailable. Saudi Arabia had previously allowed women worldwide to perform Umrah and Hajj without a mehram in October 2022.
