The Ruling on Women Working
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Q: What is the ruling in Islam regarding a woman’s work and her going out in the attire we see in the street, the school, and the home like this? And what about the rural woman working with her husband in the field?
A: There is no doubt that Islam came to honor women, protect them, and safeguard them from the wolves of mankind, and to preserve their rights and elevate their status. It made them partners with men in inheritance, forbade the killing of infant girls, made it obligatory to seek their consent in marriage, granted them absolute authority over their wealth if they are of sound mind, obligated their husbands to provide them with many rights, and obligated their fathers and relatives to provide for them when they are in need. It also obligated them to observe hijab from the gaze of non-mahram men, so that they would not become cheap commodities for everyone to enjoy. Allah the Exalted said in Surat al-Ahzab: [Al-Ahzab:53]. And He the Exalted said in the aforementioned surah: [Al-Ahzab:59]. And He the Exalted said in Surat al-Nur: [Al-Nur:30-31]. So His saying [An-Nur 24:31] was explained by the noble Companion Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) to mean the outer garments; because it is not possible to cover them except with great difficulty. And Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) explained it, in the well-known view attributed to him, as the face and the hands. The stronger opinion in this matter is the statement of Ibn Mas'ud; because the aforementioned verse of hijab indicates the obligation to cover them, and because they are among the greatest of adornments, so covering them is very important. And Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Their exposure was permissible in the early period of Islam, then the verse of hijab was revealed obligating their covering. And because exposing them to non-mahram is among the greatest causes of fitnah and among the greatest causes for exposing other parts of the body. And if the face and hands are adorned with kohl, dyes, and the like of types of cosmetics, then exposing them is forbidden by consensus. And the common practice of women today is to beautify and adorn them, so the prohibition of exposing them is established according to both opinions. As for what women do today of exposing the head, neck, chest, arms, legs, and part of the thighs, this is munkar (what is wrong) by the consensus of the Muslims, and no one with the slightest insight doubts it. The fitnah in this is great, and the corruption resulting from it is very large. So we ask Allah to guide the leaders of the Muslims to prevent this, eliminate it, and return women to what Allah has obligated upon them of hijab and staying away from the causes of fitnah.
And among what has been transmitted in this matter is His saying the Exalted: [Al-Ahzab:33]. And His saying the Exalted: [Al-Nur:60]. So Allah the Exalted commanded women in the first verse to stay in their homes; because their going out is generally among the causes of fitnah. And the evidences of the Shari'ah indicate the permissibility of going out for need with hijab and staying away from causes of suspicion. However, staying in their homes is the original ruling, and it is better for them, more beneficial, and further from fitnah. Then He forbade them the display of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, which is by displaying their beauty and charms.
And He permitted in the second verse for the qawa'id, who are the old women who do not hope for marriage, to remove their garments, meaning to not observe hijab, on the condition that they do not display themselves with adornment. And if the old women are obligated to observe hijab when there is adornment, and they are not allowed to leave it off except when there is none, and they are not a source of temptation and there is no desire for them, then what about the young, tempting women? Then He the Exalted informed that the chastity of the qawa'id through hijab is better for them, even if they do not display themselves with adornment. And all of this is clear in encouraging women to observe hijab, and staying away from uncovering and the causes of fitnah. And Allah is the One to be sought for help.
As for a woman working with her husband in the field, the factory, or the home, there is no harm in that. And likewise with her mahram relatives, if there is no non-mahram man with them. And likewise with women. And what is forbidden is her working with men who are not her mahram; because that leads to great corruption and great fitnah. And it also leads to seclusion with her and seeing some of her beauty. The complete Islamic Shari'ah came to obtain benefits and perfect them, and to avert harms and minimize them, and to block the means leading to what Allah has forbidden in many places. And there is no way to happiness, honor, dignity, and salvation in this world and the Hereafter except by holding fast to the Shari'ah, adhering to its rulings, being cautious of what contradicts it, calling to it, and being patient upon it.
May Allah guide us and you and all our brothers to that which brings His pleasure, and protect us all from the misleading trials. Indeed, He is Generous and Noble.
A: There is no doubt that Islam came to honor women, protect them, and safeguard them from the wolves of mankind, and to preserve their rights and elevate their status. It made them partners with men in inheritance, forbade the killing of infant girls, made it obligatory to seek their consent in marriage, granted them absolute authority over their wealth if they are of sound mind, obligated their husbands to provide them with many rights, and obligated their fathers and relatives to provide for them when they are in need. It also obligated them to observe hijab from the gaze of non-mahram men, so that they would not become cheap commodities for everyone to enjoy. Allah the Exalted said in Surat al-Ahzab:
And when you ask [his wives] for something, ask them from behind a partition. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts.
وَإِذَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُنَّ مَتَاعًا فَاسْأَلُوهُنَّ مِنْ وَرَاءِ حِجَابٍ ذَلِكُمْ أَطْهَرُ لِقُلُوبِكُمْ وَقُلُوبِهِنَّO Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُلْ لِأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلابِيبِهِنَّ ذَلِكََ أَدْنَى أَنْ يُعْرَفْنَ فَلا يُؤْذَيْنَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًاTell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do.
قُلْْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذَلِكَ أَزْكَى لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ except that which [necessarily] appears thereof
إِلا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَاAnd among what has been transmitted in this matter is His saying the Exalted:
And abide in your houses and do not display yourselves as [was] the display of the former times of ignorance
وَقَرْنَ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ وَلا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ الْأُولَىAnd women of post-menstrual age who have no desire for marriage - there is no blame upon them for putting aside their outer garments [but] not displaying adornment. But to modestly refrain [from that] is better for them. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.
وَالْقَوَاعِدُ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ اللاتِي لا يَرْجُونَ نِكَاحًا فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِنَّ جُنَاحٌ أَنْْ يَضَعْنَ ثِيَابَهُنَّ غَيْرَ مُتَبَرِّجَاتٍ بِزِينَةٍ وَأَنْ يَسْتَعْفِفْنَ خَيْرٌ لَهُنَّ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌAnd He permitted in the second verse for the qawa'id, who are the old women who do not hope for marriage, to remove their garments, meaning to not observe hijab, on the condition that they do not display themselves with adornment. And if the old women are obligated to observe hijab when there is adornment, and they are not allowed to leave it off except when there is none, and they are not a source of temptation and there is no desire for them, then what about the young, tempting women? Then He the Exalted informed that the chastity of the qawa'id through hijab is better for them, even if they do not display themselves with adornment. And all of this is clear in encouraging women to observe hijab, and staying away from uncovering and the causes of fitnah. And Allah is the One to be sought for help.
As for a woman working with her husband in the field, the factory, or the home, there is no harm in that. And likewise with her mahram relatives, if there is no non-mahram man with them. And likewise with women. And what is forbidden is her working with men who are not her mahram; because that leads to great corruption and great fitnah. And it also leads to seclusion with her and seeing some of her beauty. The complete Islamic Shari'ah came to obtain benefits and perfect them, and to avert harms and minimize them, and to block the means leading to what Allah has forbidden in many places. And there is no way to happiness, honor, dignity, and salvation in this world and the Hereafter except by holding fast to the Shari'ah, adhering to its rulings, being cautious of what contradicts it, calling to it, and being patient upon it.
May Allah guide us and you and all our brothers to that which brings His pleasure, and protect us all from the misleading trials. Indeed, He is Generous and Noble.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.