QUESTION:
Whilst I do understand that Islam does not prohibit any woman from doing business, however recently we find the trend of pop-ups emerging quite strongly, as well as the old trend of flea markets where we find many in women who are in Purdah having stalls at these markets. At times a woman may be false to out of circumstances to be at those venues to do a bit of trade to sustain herself.
I would like to know what is the Islamic ruling regarding women in Purdah going to these venues to trade with their husbands, and what are the boundaries that Islam prescribes for women doing trade? In the business world interaction with a male would be definite so what are Islamic guidelines for a woman who either is forced out of circumstances to be in trade, or is there merely to assist her husband?
ANSWER:
The Quraan explicitly and categorically commands females to remain within the home. Hence, they should not emerge except due to necessity. A necessity refers to such a need that if it is not fulfilled, then one will be harmed such as going out to purchase food items if no other person is available to attend to it.
Now coming to your query, it is not necessary for the wife to accompany her husband to the flea market or pop-up as he is at liberty to hire male staff to assist him, or the male children in the home may assist him. The marketplace is generally a place of Fitnah and perhaps many roamers are there with evil intentions, hence a single conversation with the opposite gender is sufficient to destroy an entire home. Also, when male shopkeepers attend to male customers, then the transaction is concluded with a few minutes, whilst male customers prolong their conversations and discussions with females (and vice versa) as the Nafs derives enjoyment from such conversations. During the pop-up, a female will also have to perform Wudhu and Salaah at Salaah time and since sufficient privacy is not found, she will be exposing herself before males during Wudhu and Salaah. A female will also have to eat when hungry which requires that she removes her veil to some extent resulting in her face becoming partly exposed if not fully exposed. Any many events the crowds are so huge that bumping into the opposite gender is inevitable which is impermissible. These are just some of the harms and dangers that a female is exposed to at the marketplace.
Yes, if she is required to earn a livelihood as no one is prepared to support her then she may sell items from her home to females only. These items may be advertised on female groups that are free of males. She may also prepare the items which she intends selling and have them dropped off (by some Mahram) at stores that are willing to market it for her. In this way, she will be remaining within her home as required by Shariah and earning a livelihood. In conclusion, a female should always remain within the confines of her home as required by Shariah.
ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai Saheb
Date: 28 Safar 1446 / 03 September 2024
