A female servant traveling without a Mahram

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Q 1: A man brought in a Muslim servant. After her contract period finished, he alone accompanied her in her travel from Tabuk to Jeddah. While in Jeddah she asked him to take her to perform `Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) as she will leave Saudi Arabia and does not know whether she will ever come back again. He, thus, took her to perform `Umrah and then took her back to Jeddah from where she traveled to her family and he traveled back to his family. He asks: a- Is accompanying her alone in her travel permissible? B- Is her `Umrah valid? Is it permissible she perform `Umrah when there is no Mahram (spouse or permanently unmarriageable relative) with her?

A: It is impermissible for her to travel without a Mahram, based on the Hadith related by Al-Bukhari and others to the effect that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “No man should be alone with a woman, and no woman should travel except when there is a Mahram (unmarriageable male relative) with her.” A man got up and said, “O Messenger of Allah! I am enrolled in such-and-such expedition, whereas my wife has set out for Hajj.” He said, “Go and perform Hajj with your wife.” However, the `Umrah she performed without a Mahram is valid and she, nevertheless, is sinful for traveling without a Mahram and has to repent. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.