Indian women are allowed to perform Hajj without male guardian this year. The Hajj pilgrimage is one of the most significant events in the Islamic faith, drawing millions of Muslims from around the world to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah in Saudi Arabia. This year, more than 4,300 Indian women will join the journey on their own, marking the largest female contingent to embark on the pilgrimage without a male guardian.
India has the world’s largest Muslim-minority population, with over 200 million Indians professing Islam. Under the 2023 Hajj quota, approximately 175,000 Indians will travel to Saudi Arabia in June for the spiritual journey that is one of the five pillars of Islam. Among these pilgrims will be women who applied individually and will reach the holy cities on their own, following Saudi Arabia’s decision last year to lift the rule that required women to be accompanied by a mahram, or male guardian.
India’s Hajj policy was tweaked accordingly in February, and the Ministry of Minority Affairs announced its list of pilgrims on Monday, revealing that 4,314 pilgrims were selected in the Ladies Without Mahram category, marking the country’s “largest ever contingent of women proceeding on Hajj alone without a male member.”
A.P. Abdullakutty, chairman of the Haj Committee of India, a statutory body of the Indian government that organizes Islamic pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia, expressed his delight at the increasing number of Indian women performing Hajj without a mahram. He called it an indicator of social development, stating that “It’s a good sign. Abdullakutty stated that the women’s ability to perform Hajj without a mahram is a significant step towards the empowerment of Indian Muslim women.
The decision by Saudi Arabia to lift the mahram requirement for women was celebrated globally as a significant milestone in the fight for women’s rights. The move allowed women greater independence in pursuing religious obligations, a change that was welcomed by women across the Muslim world. India’s policy shift following Saudi Arabia’s decision marks another step forward for gender equality and female empowerment.
Shaista Ambar, a resident of Lucknow, is among the Indian women who applied to travel alone for Hajj. She said that it was a dream come true to perform the pilgrimage without a mahram, and she expressed gratitude for the opportunity. She expressed her pride and stated, “The opportunity to perform Hajj alone is something I will cherish for the rest of my life.”
For many Muslim women, the requirement to have a male guardian has been a significant obstacle to fulfilling their religious obligations, including performing Hajj. The change in policy by Saudi Arabia and India has removed this barrier and enabled more women to undertake the pilgrimage on their own terms.
The increasing number of women performing Hajj without a mahram is a positive development for gender equality and women’s empowerment. It shows that progress is being made towards ensuring that women can participate fully in religious practices and rituals, just as men do. As more countries follow in the footsteps of Saudi Arabia and India, we can hope to see greater opportunities for women to pursue their religious obligations independently, breaking down barriers and promoting equality.
For Ambar, a social activist and founder of the All India Muslim Women’s Personal Law Board, the decision to embark on the pilgrimage alone was a personal choice. “It’s a matter of pride for me,” she said. “I will feel that I have achieved something on my own.”
Saudi Arabia’s decision to allow women to perform Hajj without a male guardian was hailed as a significant step towards gender equality in the conservative kingdom, where strict laws limit women’s rights in many aspects of life. The rule change came as part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s efforts to modernize the country and make it more attractive to foreign investors.
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The decision was also welcomed by Indian authorities, who have been working towards gender empowerment and have launched several initiatives to promote women’s participation in all areas of life. India has made significant strides towards women’s education and empowerment in recent years, with more and more women entering previously male-dominated fields and achieving success in various professions.
