Q: I work with 5 ladies and each year my boss sends us ladies for a annual weekend away. It is alone on the beach with no men and entertainment around. Is this considered haraam?
A: When a woman is not even allowed to travel without a Mahram for the great act of Haj, how can she be permitted to go out on a vacation of this nature without a Mahram? This is Haraam and must be avoided.
Furthermore, in situations like this Shaytaan can so easily mislead the woman. The Hadeeth of Our Rasool (alayhis salaatu was salaam) states:
“It is not Halaal (i.e., it’s Haraam) for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last day to travel the distance of one day and night without a Mahram” (Saheeh Muslim)
You should politely ask to be excused from such outings. You might even want to cite religious reasons. This is entirely up to you.
Mufti Siraj Desai