Fatwa #1424711 May 2006South Africa
male/female become a muswafir after travelling 77km or 88km???
Question
In your answer to question 14227 you mention that it is not permissible for a women to travel 48 miles or more without a mahram 1mile is equal to 1.67 Kilometres . Therefoere 48 km is equal to 77km.
You further state that it is not permissible for for a women to travel 88km or more without a mahram .
Does a woman become musafir after travelling 88km and not 77km???
I have heard from many ulama and always thought myself that a musafir is one who travels for more than 77km
Refering to your answer to the question14227 as I understand it does a person ,male/female become a muswafir after travelling 77km or 88km???
Answer
The Ulama have differences of opinion regarding 77 kms and 88 kms being the distance for one to be a Musaafir. The difference stems from 48 miles being Shar’ee miles or English miles. A Shar’ee mile is longer than an English mile. 1.67 is equivalent to an English mile. If an English mile is considered, then it will be 77 kms. If a Shar’ee mile is considered, then it will be 88 kms.
The Jamee’atul Mufteen (Board of Muftis) consisting of eleven Darul Iftas of South Africa is to discuss this on the 27 May 2006. We will make an announcement regarding the verdict of the Jamaee’atul Mufteen.
and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best
Mufti Ebrahim Desai