The Ruling on a Woman Working and Going Out Without a Mahram and Without Her Husband's Permission

Question:
The question asks: What is the ruling on a woman studying or working after graduation if she cannot find any mahram to take her to and from work? What is the ruling if the husband does not approve of her working in order to protect her? Does the husband commit a sin in this case?

Answer:
As for if her work is a journey to a place that is eighty kilometers or more from the town, then it is not permissible for her to work unless she has a mahram who goes with her and returns with her, because this is travel. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: two days. They calculated the distance of a two-day journey for a mount, and they found it to be eighty kilometers or more. As for if the work is in the town and close to the house, then as we mentioned, the default and basis is that she works in the house. If she completes the housework and has time left, then she may work outside the house. The women of the Muslims used to work outside their houses in the farms, in herding livestock, and in other things, with modesty, covering, chastity, and no free mixing, and no free mixing with men. As for the issue of the woman with her husband, this is subject to the condition. If she made it a condition on him that she would work in a job that is within the limits of the Shari'ah, a job that the Shari'ah permits, and she made it a condition that she would work outside the house, in a job that is in accordance with the Shari'ah, then the Muslims are bound by their conditions, so he is required to fulfill the condition. As for if she did not make it a condition on him, then it is not permissible for her to go out of the house except with his permission, neither for work nor for anything else. She does not go out except with his permission if she did not make it a condition on him.