She says: If a woman goes out to work without a mahram and leaves her children with her mother, with her husband's consent, out of the necessity of life, and she is veiled and observant of her religious affairs.
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The questioner : She says: If a woman goes out to work without a mahram and leaves her children with her mother, with her husband's consent, out of the necessity of life, and she is veiled and observant of her religious affairs, and observant during her husband's absence, is she sinful regarding her children or not?
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. As for a woman leaving her children and her husband's home to go to work, this is a very serious matter, because a woman does not need it, meaning earning a livelihood through work, since her husband is commanded to provide for her, as Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Baqarah 2:233] and it is the husband who is responsible for [Al-Baqarah 2:233].
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said in his sermon during the Farewell Pilgrimage at 'Arafah:Sunan Abi Dawud 1905Sahih (Al-Albani) And as He the Exalted said: [At-Talaq 65:7] And Allah did not say: If his provision is restricted, let his wife be with him to earn.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Islam is a complete system that assigns to every person what is appropriate to their condition. The husband is responsible for financial maintenance, and the mother is responsible for care in the home. If this woman wants to be of the highest standard, she should return to her home and be a nurturer for her children, so that she does not deprive her children of maternal compassion. For even if the grandmother has compassion, the mother's compassion is stronger. Likewise, she should not deprive herself of her children, who see her among them and complain to her. Her husband is the one who earns and spends from what Allah has given him,[At-Talaq 65:7] This is what I advise her to do: to return to the home and care for her children and her husband, as Allah the Glorious and Exalted said: [An-Nisa 4:34] But if she refuses to do anything but work, there is no blame on her if she works in a women's field, not in a men's field, because no matter how much chastity, modesty, and veiling she attains, she will not be safe from fitnah, either from them or because of her.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Therefore, we do not see it permissible for her to work with men in any job. Rather, if it is absolutely necessary, she should work in a women's field, such as girls' schools and the like.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for if her children are in need of her, such that the grandmother is unable to do what is obligatory toward them, then it is not permissible for her at all to go out, not even to work in a women's field, because in this case she would have neglected her trust.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. As for a woman leaving her children and her husband's home to go to work, this is a very serious matter, because a woman does not need it, meaning earning a livelihood through work, since her husband is commanded to provide for her, as Allah the Exalted said:
Mothers may breastfeed their children two complete years for whoever wishes to complete the nursing [period]. Upon the
وَالْوَالِدَاتُ يُرْضِعْنَ أَوْلادَهُنَّ حَوْلَيْنِ كَامِلَيْنِ لِمَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يُتِمَّ الرَّضَاعَةَ وَعَلَى الْمَوْلُودِ لَهُthe mothers' provision and their clothing according to what is acceptable
رِزْقُهُنَّ وَكِسْوَتُهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said in his sermon during the Farewell Pilgrimage at 'Arafah:
You are responsible for providing them with food and clothing in a fitting manner
لهن عليكم رزقهن وكسوتهن بالمعروفLet a man of wealth spend from his wealth, and he whose provision is restricted - let him spend from what Allah has given him
لِيُنفِقْ ذُو سَعَةٍ مِنْ سَعَتِهِ وَمَنْ قُدِرَ عَلَيْهِ رِزْقُهُ فَلْيُنفِقْ مِمَّا ءاتَاهُ اللَّهُThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Islam is a complete system that assigns to every person what is appropriate to their condition. The husband is responsible for financial maintenance, and the mother is responsible for care in the home. If this woman wants to be of the highest standard, she should return to her home and be a nurturer for her children, so that she does not deprive her children of maternal compassion. For even if the grandmother has compassion, the mother's compassion is stronger. Likewise, she should not deprive herself of her children, who see her among them and complain to her. Her husband is the one who earns and spends from what Allah has given him,
Allah does not charge a soul except [according to] what He has given it.
لا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا مَا ءاتَاهَاSo righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband's] absence what Allah would have them guard
فَالصَّالِحَاتُ قَانِتَاتٌ حَافِظَاتٌ لِلْغَيْبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ اللَّهُThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Therefore, we do not see it permissible for her to work with men in any job. Rather, if it is absolutely necessary, she should work in a women's field, such as girls' schools and the like.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for if her children are in need of her, such that the grandmother is unable to do what is obligatory toward them, then it is not permissible for her at all to go out, not even to work in a women's field, because in this case she would have neglected her trust.