THE MUSLIM HOME EPISODE 1️⃣9️⃣ - Forming the Household 1️⃣7️⃣

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*THE MUSLIM HOME*

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*EPISODE 1️⃣9️⃣ - Forming the Household 1️⃣7️⃣*

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*2️⃣1️⃣ Re-evaluating women’s work outside the home - Cont...*

When we say “not on such a grand scale”, we mean that there is a need for women to work in some fields, such as teaching, nursing and medicine, within the conditions set out by Sharee’ah, and when there is a need for them to do so. But we started by saying that there is no great need, because of the fact that we notice some women going out to work when there is no need, and sometimes they work for very low wages, because they feel that they have to go out to work even when there is no need to do so, or they work in places that are not suitable, which leads to much Fitnah and trouble. 

One of the main differences between the Islaamic view on women’s work and the secular view is that the basic principle in Islaam is to:

*“. . . Stay in your houses . . .”*

[Qur'aan 33:33]

Although women may go out when they need to – _“And permission has been given to you to go out for your needs”_ (Hadeeth). The secular principle, on the other hand, is to go out no matter what the circumstances. 

To be fair, we should say that there may indeed be a need for women to work, such as a woman who is the breadwinner for her family after her husband has died or her father has become too old to work, and so on. Indeed, in some societies which are not based on Islaamic principles, a woman may find herself forced to work to help her husband cover the living expenses of the family. A man may not propose to a woman unless she is working, and some men may even make it a condition of the marriage contract that the wife work! 

In conclusion: a woman may work if she needs to or for some Islaamic purpose, such as calling others to Allaah in the field of teaching, or to make use of her time, as some women do who do not have children. 

With regard to the negative aspects of women working outside the home, these include: 

- What often happens of things that are forbidden in Islaam, such as mixing with men, getting to know them and being alone with them, wearing perfume for them and starting to show one's adornment to strangers (non-Mahram men), which can ultimately lead to immoral conduct. 

- Not giving the husband his rights, neglecting the house, not giving the children their proper rights. (This is our basic point here). 

- Undermining the feeling in some women’s minds that the husband is the Qawwaam (protector and maintainer). Let us take the case of a woman whose qualifications are equal to those of her husband, or even higher (although there is nothing wrong with that in and of itself), and who works and earns more than he does. Will she feel the proper need towards her husband and obey him properly, or will she feel that she is independent of him, which could rock the household on its foundations, unless Allaah wills good for her? These arguments about spending on the working wife and how much she should spend on the family may never end. 

- Physical exhaustion and psychological and nervous pressure which do not befit the nature of women. 

Having briefly discussed the pros and cons of women’s work, we conclude that we have to fear 

Allaah, and to weigh the matter up according to Sharee’ah, and to know the circumstances in which a woman is permitted to go out to work, and when she is not. We should not be blinded by worldly gains or allow them to distract us from the truth. This advice to women is in their best interests and in the interests of the family. Husbands should also stop thinking in terms of taking revenge and should not consume their wife’s wealth unjustly.

_To be continued... إِنْ شَاءَ ٱللّٰهُ‎_

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