Guidelines for a Woman Leaving Her Home
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
She also asks whether there are specific cases where it is better for a woman to go out, or whether you direct her to something specific, may Allah reward you with good. For example, going out to visit, or to the market, or something similar?
Answer:
The default for a woman is to remain in her home; because it is safer for her, and keeps her further away from fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), and so that she can raise her children and do the work of her home. This is the default for a woman. Allah the Exalted said to the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):[Al-Ahzab 33:33].
He said: "Remain in your homes," which means staying and not going out. If this is an address to the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), then they are even more obligated to do so; because they are the role model for the women of the believers. And if the need arises for her to go out for honest work that involves no ikhtilat (free mixing of men and women) and no fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), then there is nothing wrong with it to the extent of the situation. Or if the need arises for her to go out to visit her neighbor or a relative, with proper covering and protection, or if she feels lonely in her home and goes out to her neighbors to sit with them, then there is no harm in that with proper covering and protection. Or if she seeks a livelihood because she has no one to support her, and she goes out to seek a livelihood from honorable means that are secluded from men and from fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), then there is nothing wrong with that to the extent of the need. Or if she goes out to pray in the mosque, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: meaning, not adorned and not wearing perfume, excellent. And not displaying their adornment, and going out in ordinary clothes that do not attract attention, and clothes that cover and are not enticing.
The result is that the default is for the woman to remain in her home, because this is safer and more protective for her. If she needs to go out, she goes out only to the extent of the need, with proper covering, protection, and caution. Yes.
She also asks whether there are specific cases where it is better for a woman to go out, or whether you direct her to something specific, may Allah reward you with good. For example, going out to visit, or to the market, or something similar?
Answer:
The default for a woman is to remain in her home; because it is safer for her, and keeps her further away from fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), and so that she can raise her children and do the work of her home. This is the default for a woman. Allah the Exalted said to the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
And abide in your houses and do not display yourselves as [was] the display of the former times of ignorance.
وَقَرْنَ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ وَلَا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ الْأُولَىٰHe said: "Remain in your homes," which means staying and not going out. If this is an address to the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), then they are even more obligated to do so; because they are the role model for the women of the believers. And if the need arises for her to go out for honest work that involves no ikhtilat (free mixing of men and women) and no fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), then there is nothing wrong with it to the extent of the situation. Or if the need arises for her to go out to visit her neighbor or a relative, with proper covering and protection, or if she feels lonely in her home and goes out to her neighbors to sit with them, then there is no harm in that with proper covering and protection. Or if she seeks a livelihood because she has no one to support her, and she goes out to seek a livelihood from honorable means that are secluded from men and from fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), then there is nothing wrong with that to the extent of the need. Or if she goes out to pray in the mosque, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Do not prevent the women of Allah from the mosques of Allah, and their homes are better for them, and let them go out in a state of undress (without adornment).
لا تمنعوا إماء الله مساجد الله وبيوتهن خير لهن وليخرجن تفلاتThe result is that the default is for the woman to remain in her home, because this is safer and more protective for her. If she needs to go out, she goes out only to the extent of the need, with proper covering, protection, and caution. Yes.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، 4951- ضوابط خروج المرأة من بيتها - الشيخ صالح الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.