A woman traveling without a Mahram for a necessity

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Q: I am an elderly widow and I have an ID card. I have an elder sister who lives in Al-Dammam. She does not have anyone to help her except Allah (Exalted be He), so I visit her from time to time. When I want to ride a means of transportation, they ask me to bring a Mahram (spouse or permanently unmarriageable relative). I do not have a Mahram and I cannot bring one because Mahrams cannot be hired but have to be one of the unmarriageable male relatives. Could you advise me (Part No. 17; Page No. 337) in this regard?

A: It is not permissible for a woman to travel without a Mahram except for a necessity. On the authority of Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) who narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "A woman should not travel except with a Mahram, and no man may visit her except in the presence of a Mahram." (Related by Ahmad, Al-Bukhari, and Muslim) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.