I would like to find out what is the ruling on Muslim women living alone without a Mahram. I am 32yrs and recently divorced boarding with a Muslim family in the UK. I have family here, my mother's sister and father's sister; however, I do not live with them. My immediate family live in South Africa.
 
I would like to know whether Islamically it is ok for me to live here while I work and help my family out financially from this side as they are in a bad situation financially and my mum and dad do not work at the moment. Is it ok for me to stay here while I get my UK rights which are not long, and then join them once things are more stable for us.
 
I only want to do that which pleases Allah as for a long time I have neglected my duties as a Muslimah. I have recently started wearing the Hijab and surrounding myself with Islamic influences here in the UK. However, is it detrimental to my faith to be here without living with a Mahram?

Al-jawaab billaahi at-taufeeq (the answer with Allah Taa’la's guidance)

Let’s start off with, and, I can only assume, from your email, that you travelled from Africa to the U.K. by yourself – the BIG question here is, ‘Can a woman travel WITHOUT a Mahram?’ Please remember that I am going to answer your question according to the Hanafi Madhab.

Well, it is prohibited for a woman to travel the distance of three days (equivalent to 48 miles) without her husband or a Mahram accompanying her. It is also impermissible for her to travel even if it was to Hajj, as we learn from the following Hadith; Hadhrat ibn-e-Abbaas (Radi Allah Anho) narrated from the Holy Prophet, Hadhrat Muhammad-ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) that He (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, ‘Verily, a woman must not travel for Hajj except that her Mahram is accompanying her’. Also, a woman is unsafe if her husband or Mahram is not accompanying her. It is impermissible for a man to be in seclusion (khalwa) with a non-Mahram woman even if she has another woman accompanying her”. (Bada’i al-Sana’i).

Boarding with a Muslim family where there are non-Mahrams is unacceptable in the laws of Shari’ah, as in theory this is known as ‘Free Mixing’, Hukm ul Ikhtilaat. Where you are living, THREE situations could arise, and each are FORBIDDEN under the banner of ISLAM:

1) Al Ikhtilaat - This is free mixing in a situation where men and women who are non Mahram are in one place together where they can close the door and they can recognise or see each other

2) Al Ijtimaa’ - This is free mixing in a situation where men and women who are non Mahram are in one place together where they can close the door and they can recognise or see each other but men on one side and women on the other.

3) Al Khalwah - one man and one woman alone together who are non Mahram and no one can see them.

No doubt, I even believe that a woman’s voice is her Awrah too – (Please refer to my detailed answer – IS A WOMAN’S VOICE HER AWRAH? On www.islamictimes.co.uk)

Shaykh Mufti Muhammad Taqi Uthmaani states that in the case of a woman who has neither a husband nor a father; nor does she have some other relative who could support her financially; nor does she have enough funds to take care of her needs, then under such conditions it will become permissible for her to go out of the house under legal Hijab and earn her living to the limit of her need. Now, when this purpose can be easily achieved while living in one's own country or city, then there is no need to travel to a foreign land. If there is no other way for her, but to travel to another city, and she does not have any Mahrams, then only in this situation it will be permissible for her to take the opinion of Imam Shaafi’ee and Imam Maalik (Alayhim Rahmah), for they have given permission for her to travel with a group of trustworthy women [in such situations].

You are left with TWO options: 1) Get your rights in the UK as you’ve stated won’t be long now and then join your parents back in Africa, or 2) Is that I pray to Allah Taa’la that He enables you to find a life-time suitable partner who will treat you humanely as mentioned in a Hadith in Bukhaari and Muslim, the Holy Prophet, Hadhrat Muhammad-ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) saying, ‘Be advised to treat women righteously.’

(VERILY, ALLAH TAA’LA IS ALL-KNOWING!)