Muslim Woman Working

QUESTION:

My father suffered a stroke and could not provide for us anymore. I started work as an accountant to provide for my family. Recently, some family members accused me of committing Zina when I’m at work. What is the Shari ruling pertaining to false accusations regarding Zina?

ANSWER:

There are two parts to the question to consider.

a) As far as the permissibility of your job is concerned, in principle, it is not permissible for you to go out and earn as a woman, for as long as you have a male member of your family to look after your needs. In the event that you don’t have any provider, you can receive Zakaat. If both these options are not available, one can work in an environment that does not contravene the laws of Shari’ah. However, if the nature of your job requires you to intermingle with men, and places you in a compromising or suspicious position, you will have to look for another job and make Taubah.

b) As far as the accusations against you are concerned, we advise you to exercise patience and maintain family ties. Their action is a grave sin and punishable in an Islamic State, but this does not waive off the rights of a mother and sister. Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam commanded us to obey our parents, even if they expel us from our homes and separate us from our children and family.

عن عبد الله رضي الله عنه عن النبي ﷺ المرأةُ عَورَةٌ وإنَّها إذا خرَجَتْ من بيتِها استَشرَفَها الشيطانُ فإنَّها أقرَبُ ما تكونُ منَ اللهِ في قَعرِ بيتِها

(أخرجه الترمذي (1173) ، والبزار (2061))

وَالْأُمُّ إذَا كَانَتْ فَقِيرَةً فَإِنَّهُ يَلْزَمُ الِابْنَ نَفَقَتُهَا، وَإِنْ كَانَ مُعْسِرًا، أَوْ هِيَ غَيْرَ زَمِنَةٍ

(الفتاوى الهندية 1/565)

قال العلامة محمد شفيع العثماني: دلت الٓاية علی أن الأصل في حقهن الحجاب بالبيوت والقرار بها ، ولكن يستثنی منه مواضع الضرورة فيكتفی فيها الحجاب بالبراقع و الجلابيب

أحكام القران، ج3 ، ص(317))

قال العلامة العيني: و لا خلاف أن غيرهن (غير أزواج المطهرات) لهن أن يخرجن لما يحتجن إليه من أمورهن الجائزة بشرط أن يكن بذة الهيئة، خشنة الملبس، تفلة الريح، مستورة الأعضاء، غير متبرجات بزينة، و لا رافعة صوتها

(عمدة القاري، ج13،ص247)

عن معاذ رضي الله عنه قال أوصاني رسول الله ﷺ بعشر كلمات قال… لا تُشْرِكْ باللهِ شيئًا وإنْ قُتِلْتَ وحُرِّقْتَ، ولا تَعُقَّنَّ والِدَيْكَ؛ وإنْ أمراكَ أنْ تَخْرُجَ من أهلِكَ ومالِكَ … الحديث.

(أخرجه أحمد 22075)

ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Abrar Ahmad Motala

Date: 16 Safar 1447 / 11 August 2025

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:

Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb