From Text to Policy

Abstrak

This study aims to recontextualize the ḥadīth concerning the requirement of a maḥram for women performing the ḥajj by analyzing its relevance within contemporary Indonesian conditions. Using a qualitative approach that combines textual analysis of ḥadīth sources with socio-legal perspectives, the research examines how classical interpretations may be integrated with modern gender-sensitive jurisprudence and pilgrimage governance. The findings indicate that the essence of the maḥram requirement lies in safeguarding women’s security, which in the Indonesian context is realized through institutional mechanisms such as the group pilgrimage system (kloter), supervisory structures, and the increasing involvement of female officers. This demonstrates a shift from a strictly biological understanding of the maḥram toward a structural-symbolic model of protection embedded in hajj management. The study’s originality lies in bridging classical ḥadīth interpretation with contemporary policy frameworks, offering a gender-responsive reading that aligns with maqāṣid al-sharīʿah, particularly ḥifẓ al-nafs (protection of life) and ḥifẓ al-ʿird (protection of dignity). The implications extend to both scholarship and practice: enriching the discourse on women’s fiqh in modern contexts while providing policymakers with recommendations for designing inclusive, secure, and equitable hajj services that respond to the evolving needs of female pilgrims.