Are women allowed to work in Islam?

Question

I was wondering if Muslim women are allowed to work outside of their home? Are there conditions where it is allowed? What if the husband's income isn't enough for the family?

Answer 1

Islam Gives Men and Women Equal Rights

In reality, and in Islam, the rights and responsibilities of a woman are equal to those of man, but they are not necessarily identical with them. Equality and sameness are two very different things. I think you’ll agree that, for one thing, women and men are physically very different from one another, although they are equal to each other in other important ways.

Muslim Women Have the Right to Go Outside of their Home

Muslim women are not forbidden from going out in the community, working, or visiting relatives and female friends, if there is no objection from their guardian/husband and they are covered and behave and speak according to Islamic guidelines and, if necessary, escorted by their Mahram (a close male relative). However, a woman’s home should be the main base that she works from. Allah (SWT) instructed the wife’s of the Prophet (SAW):

"O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women. If you keep your duty (to Allah), then be not soft in speech, lest he is whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy or evil desire for adultery, etc.) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honorable manner. And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance, and offer prayers perfectly (Iqamat-as-Salat), and give Zakat and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah wishes only to remove Ar-Rijs (evil deeds and sins, etc.) from you, O members of the family [of the Prophet (SAW)], and to purify you with a thorough purification." (Al-Ahzab 33:32-33)

Working Women

Islamic jurisprudence has sanctioned that women can work within the confines of shariah value outlined in verse 71, chapter al-Tawbah (The Repentance) which means:

“The Believers, men and women, are protectors one of another: they enjoin what is just, and forbid what is evil: they observe regular prayers, practice regular charity and obey Allah and His Messenger: On them will Allah pour His mercy for Allah is Exalted in power, Wise”.
The context of “protectors one of another” can be said to be appropriate to the current social change where education opportunity and economics have led women supporting their husbands in building a happy and comfortable family by venturing outside the household.

In Islam, however, the value and importance of women in society and the true measure of their success as human beings, is measured with completely different criteria: their fear of Allah (SWT) and obedience to Him, and fulfillment of the duties He has entrusted them with, particularly that of bearing, rearing and teaching children.

Nevertheless, Islam is a practical religion, and responds to human needs and life situations. Many women need, or wish, to work for various reasons. For example, they may possess a needed skill, such as a teacher or a doctor.

While Islam does not prohibit women working outside the home, it does stipulate that the following restrictions be followed to safeguard the dignity and honor of women and the purity and stability of the Islamic society, (the conduct of women, after all, is the "backbone" of any society):

1. Outside employment should not come before, or seriously interfere with her responsibilities as wife and mother.

2. Her work should not be a source of friction within the family, and the husband’s consent is required in order to eliminate later disagreements. If she is not married, she must have her guardian’s consent.

3. Her appearance, manner and tone of speech and overall behavior should follow Islamic guidelines. These include: restraining her glances in relation to any men near the work place, wearing correct Islamic dress, avoiding men, not walking in a provocative manner, and not using make-up or perfume in public.

4. Her job should not be one which causes moral corruption in society, or involve any prohibited trade or activity, affect her own religion, morals, dignity and good behavior, or subject her to temptations.

5. Her job should not be one which is mixing and associating with men.

6. A woman should try to seek employment in positions which require a woman’s special skills, or which relate to the needs of women and children, such as teaching, nursing other women, midwifery, medicine with specialization’s like pediatric or obstetrics-gynecology.

Source: http://www.realislam.com/muslim_women.htm

Answer 2

I am no scholar, but the wives of the Prophet PBUP "worked". Hazrat Khadeejah was a successful merchant. How she conducted her trade, I am not sure, but it would be fairly difficult to be successful without enforcing some sort of authority, which meant it would require her presence or interaction with her hirelings.

Hazrat Aisha was a scholar. Scholars, do not live in a hole. They interact, albeit this kind of interaction can always be done behind a screen of sorts.

So the precedent is there, the only question is how to go on about it. For that Scholars have put forward their opinions with arguments. If this matter is dear to your heart, don't only look at their final statements, look at their arguments as well and decide accordingly.

Answer 3

A Muslim woman must not be excessive in going out from home unless it is a valid necessity that cannot be fulfilled unless she goes out. So, if she has need to go out, she must observe proper hijab. However, if a woman is able to stay at home, that is better and protective for her. Allah addressed His Prophet's wives-who are our role models -

"And remain in your homes." [Al-Azhaab:33]"

This is also reiterated when we read that Allah loves it when woman prays at home and doesn't go to masaajid though masaajid is the pure place for prayer.

The Prophet (salallahu alayhi wassalam) said: Do no prevent the servant woman of Allah from going out to the masaajid of Allah. But their homes are better for them." [Muslim no.442]

However, Scholars of Islam don’t restrict a woman from working outside of her home. In fact, there are jobs where women are required. For example, teaching women or female gynecologists, nurses etc. There is nothing wrong in that as long as she abides by the following guidelines [1]:

1. She must have a need for doing this work or the community she lives in requires her to do this job, such that there cannot be found any man that can do the job.

2. She should do this after fulfilling the job she has at home, which is her primary job.

3. This job must be in an environment of women only, such as her teaching women (only) or doctoring and nursing female patients. And her work must be separate from men.

4. Likewise, there is nothing that restricts her from learning the affairs of her Religion – in fact she is obligated to do this. And there is nothing preventing her from teaching about the aspects of her Religion, so long as there is a need for that and her teaching is held in an environment of (only) women. And there is no harm in her attending classes in a masjid and so on, while being consistent in that and segregated from men. This can be seen from the women in the beginning of Islaam (i.e. the Sahaabiyaat), in that they would work and study and attend the masaajid.

Also, since nowadays there are opportunities to work for a concern from home, this is good. It is also allowed by Islam provided she fulfills the job at home.

[1] From Tanbeehaat ‘alaa Ahkaam takhtassu bil-Mu’minaat (pg. 6-11) by Shaykh Salih Al-Fawzaan

Answer 4

Intermingling of sexes is prohibited. Therefore, a female cannot work in an environment of men without necessity. If there is a need for women to work, she may do so in an environment where there are women only. Whenever a female leaves her home, she must adhere to the laws of Hijaab.

and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

Mufti Ebrahim Des

ai FATWA DEPT.

http://www.islam.tc/cgi-bin/askimam/ask.pl?q=7941&act=view