Fatwa Of The Week: Conditions For Muslim Women To Work

In accordance to the noble Shari’a, it is permissible for a Muslim woman to go out for work provided the following conditions are met:

– The job is deemed permissible in Shari’a and does not include anything that contradicts legal rulings.

– The woman guarantees safety for her person, chastity and religion [from temptation).

– The job suits woman’s physical and psychological nature.

Consequently, a woman’s work should not contradict righteousness [birr] or oppose her guardian’s responsibility over her.

Evidence from the sunna

Jabir Ibn ‘Abdullah (Allah be pleased with them) reported: My maternal aunt was divorced, and she intended to pluck her dates [from palm trees]. A person scolded her for having come out (during her waiting period). She came to the Prophet (peace and blessins be upon him) and he told her: “Certainly you can pluck (dates) from your palm trees, for perhaps you may give out charity or do an act of kindness.” [Muslim, Sahih).

The Shari’a view on working women:

There is no issue with a woman leaving her house if she has to, especially if she is doing so to fulfill the needs of others, such as going to a school to teach muslim women.

It is established in shari’a that it is impermissible for a wife to go out for work except with her husband’s permission. If a wife goes out for work without her husband’s explicit or implicit permission, she will be blameworthy.

The spouses’ rights are mutual

This means that a husband is obliged to provide for his wife and she is to remain in the marital house in fulfillment of his rights over her. Allah Almighty says:

Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth. [Qur’an 4: 34).

There is no contradiction between a wife’s legal right to work and her husband’s right to prevent her. No one can object to a sensible and adult woman’s legal right to engage in work that is lawful or to her right to be financially independent though this does not contradict her husband’s right to prevent her from working. For example, it is established in the Shari’a that it is permissible for a husband to prevent his wife from performing voluntary prayers and fasts although they are both legally permissible.

The husband’s explicit permission for his wife to go out for work involves him informing her of his consent, while his implicit permission involves showing no objection to her going out or if he had accepted to marry her while knowing that she is a working woman.

References:

Egypt’s Dar al iftaa (December 03, 2013)

عمل المراة: حقيقته وضوابط Professor Yûsuf al qaradawi

Fataawa Mar’ah Ibn Uthaymeen

Compiled by Abu Umar, Ustadh Muhyidden Olusola