Jobs for women

Purdah is extremely important for women.  The daughters of the Ummah can adorn themselves with religious and worldly education and reform the society, outwardly and inwardly.  They can follow the Purdah to the letter and perform social services as well within the guidelines provided by the Shariah.  There is a Hadith in Sahih Bukhari:

 

In the first era of Islam, the venerable female Sahabah of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would treat the injured in times of war and provide water to the ill and perform such tasks.

 

The daughters of the Ummah can acquire not only religious but also worldly education and can arm themselves with all kinds of skills.  In fact, one section/group should specialize in medicine in women’s diseases, so that there is no need to turn to others.

 

If a lady practices complete Purdah, fulfills her responsibility in the best manner and with the husband’s permission, wants to work somewhere, then the Shariah permits it.  There is a Hadith in Sahih Bukhari: 

 

Translation of Hadith:  Allah Ta’ala has permitted you women to step out of your houses for your needs.  (Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 2, Pg. No. 788, Hadith No. 5237)

 

There is another Hadith in Sahih Bukhari:

 

Translation of Hadith: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Rabee’ Bin Mau’ood (May Allah be well pleased with her), she says that along with the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), we would provide drinking water, take care of the injured and take the martyrs towards Madina.  (Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 1, Kitab Ul Jihad, Pg. No. 403)

 

Working as an air-hostess?

 

Nowadays, the willingness of women to work as an air-hostess is increasing.  Thus, it is necessary to understand its rules also:

 

While working as an air-hostess, a woman has to serve food and drinks to the passengers.  For the following reasons, working as an airhostess is not permissible for Muslim women:

 

1.  Mostly, for airhostesses, the clothes are indecent.

 

2.  Talking/interacting/mixing with men is unavoidable.

 

3.  The whole job is itself in a journey, although the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has prohibited from traveling with a non-Mahram, as given in the Hadith in Sahih Bukhari:

 

Translation of Hadith:  It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abdullah Bin Umar (May Allah be well pleased with them) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  No woman should travel for a distance of more than 3 days without a Mahram.  (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 1024)

 

If it is possible to do this job following the rules of the Purdah as decreed by the Shariah, avoiding mixing with men and along with a Mahram, then there is an allowance for it provided the women only serve women and don’t mix with men.  Otherwise, this job itself is a mixture of many sins.

 

What does the Shariah say about the lady who for the sake of relaxing wants to go to a park or such place along with her husband and/or the Mahram relatives.  What does the Shariah say about the lady who wants to eat in a hotel along with her husband and/or Mahram relatives?  Does the Shariah permit it?

 

The Hijab is the safeguard of a woman’s chastity.  In light of the status of the women and their greatness, they have been given this command.  Following the Hijab, she can go to those places where there is no free mixing of men and women along with her Mahram (Husband or those relatives along with whom marriage is permanently not allowed) relatives.  There is no harm if they use the family sections in hotels where everybody is not allowed, in times of need like in a journey or such.

 

Translation of Hadith:  Allah Ta’ala has permitted you women to step out of your houses for your needs.  (Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 2, Pg. No. 788, Hadith No. 5237)