Conditions for a Woman’s Employment

Question:
The following message was received by the program from Jordan, sent by one of the Egyptian sisters residing there. She concealed her name with the initials (N. A. M). Her question states: She is an employed woman who is in need of the job and work, and she asks your Eminence about the conditions of hijab so that she may work within an Islamic framework. May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
It is obligatory for her to adhere to the Islamic hijab in her work. She must refrain from tabarruj (displaying adornment) and from exposing her charms, whether her head, her face, or any part of her body, so that she does not cause fitnah (temptation) and is not herself tempted, neither in the markets nor in the workplace if there are men present. If she sees men, she must veil herself from them. Her work should be with women, not with men, whether she is a teacher or not; she should be teaching women and working with women so that she is safe from fitnah. She must veil herself, including the face, as the correct view is that it is 'awrah (a part of the body that must be covered). If she wears the hijab—the burqa—and makes two openings for her eyes, or one for looking, there is no harm. She covers the rest of her face, and likewise her feet and hands, as this is the correct view, because the woman is entirely 'awrah. Allah the Exalted says in His Noble Book: [Al-Ahzab: 53], and He the Exalted says: [An-Nur: 31], the verse.
The face is among the greatest of adornments, as are the hands, the feet, the hair, and the chest; all of these are adornment. So she should veil herself completely from non-mahram men. As for greeting and speaking, there is no harm in a greeting that is not khudu' (submissive) and not with coquetry. Allah the Exalted says: [Al-Ahzab: 32]. The speech should be ordinary, without harshness and without khudu', but ordinary.
This is what is prescribed for a woman with non-mahram men: she addresses them with the Shari'ah hijab and without khalwah (seclusion). She does not seclude herself with a non-mahram man, whether her cousin or anyone else; she does not seclude herself with her sister’s husband or her husband’s brother or anyone else. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): . However, she may begin with a greeting and return the greeting; there is no harm. She may ask about his condition and his family, and address him regarding her needs, provided there is no khalwah, no khudu' in speech, and no exposure or display of adornment. Yes.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.