Proof for females not being permitted to venture outdoors
Question:-
- Why are women not allowed to work, considering that that Hadrat Khadija was a businesswoman?
- Is it fine for women to study and become doctors, since Hadrat Ayesha Radiallahu Anha was like a doctor?
- How did Hadhrat Ayesha Radiallahu Anha impart the knowledge of medicine to the soldiers and Islamic knowledge to the Sahaabah?
- How did the female soldiers fight in Jihaad with men? How did Umme Aymaan (a lady) save Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam? How did women carry out these acts if a woman’s place is at home?
- Where does it say that a woman’s place is at home? Why do woman have brains? Hadhrat Ayesha Radiallahu Anha was an entrepreneur.
Answer:-
1. It is recorded in the Kitaabs of history that Hadrat Khadijah Radiallahu Anha was a noble, pure and chaste woman from amongst the Arabs. She was an extremely wealthy and successful person. However, she would hire various individuals to run her business for her, hence, various employees used to travel to Shaam on business expeditions on her behalf. Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam was also hired by her, as he was well-known for his truthfulness and trustworthiness, until he finally married her. This clearly indicates that she didn’t attend to the day to the day running of her business, but it was carried out by her employees. [Re:- Seeratul Mustafa Pg.99 Vol.1] This in no way proves that women are permitted to leave their homes and go out to work. The Quraan Sharif categorically states that they should remain within the confines of their home. Yes, if they are working from within the home by baking, or cooking and selling to other females, or they are educating females from within their homes, etc. within the parameters of Shariah, then there is no harm in doing so.
وَقَرْنَ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ وَلَا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ الْأُولَىٰ ﴿الأحزاب: ٣٣﴾
عن عبد الله، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال إن المرأة عورة فإذا خرجت استشرفها الشيطان وأقرب ما تكون من وجه ربها وهي في قعر بيتها (مسند البزار رقم 1820)
2/3. We have not found any proof from the Quraan and Hadith which indicates that Hadrat Aisha Radiallahu Anha was a doctor. Yes, undoubtedly she imparted the knowledge of Deen from within the home, whilst observing Shari’ee Purdah, but her being a doctor and imparting knowledge of medicine, is unknown. Again, her imparting knowledge of Deen to the Sahaabah from within the home in no way approves of women attending Kuffar universities where females fall into illicit affairs with non-Muslim boys, and some even lose their Imaan. The Sahaabah would come to her as she knew so much about the private life of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam, which others didn’t have knowledge of, hence, on the basis of necessity, the Sahaaba used to ask her questions. Many argue that there is a need for Muslim female doctors. Muslim females may utilize the services of non-Muslim female doctors that are easily available. Also, the government hospitals are accommodating at times and permit female doctors and nurses to attend to our women on request. Hence, there is no need to subject our Muslim girls to all the wrongs prevalent at universities and colleges.
4. Yes, there are narrations where certain Sahaabiyah participated in battles, such as the battle of Uhud. Hadrat Aisha and Umme Sulaym Radiallahu Anhuma folded their garments to the extent that the anklets on their legs could be seen, and they transferred water on their backs to the Mujaahideen. However, this was just one or two females that could have probably had special permission from Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam. It was not a general rule for all the females to participate, otherwise all of them would have participated. According to another narration, the women came to Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam and complained that the men have gone (ahead) in virtue and by striving in the path of Allah. Was there an action for them by which they can attain the actions of the Mujahideen in the path of Allah? Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “Whoever from amongst you sits in her home, then she will attain the Amal of the Mujaahideen who are in the path of Allah.” This was the rule applicable to the women in general. In this narration, it is clearly stated that the place of the women is the home, or else women would have been commanded to participate in Jihaad as well.
عن أنسٍ رضيَ اللهُ عنه قالَ: لَمَّا كَانَ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ؛ انْهَزَمَ النَّاسُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ – صلى الله عليه وسلم -، وَأَبُو طَلْحَةَ بَيْنَ يَدَىِ النَّبِيِّ – صلى الله عليه وسلم – مُجَوِّبٌ (37) عَلَيْهِ بِحَجَفَةٍ لَهُ، وَكَانَ أَبُو طَلْحَةَ رَجُلاً رَامِيًا شَدِيدَ النَّزْعِ، كَسَرَ يَوْمَئِذٍ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثًا، وَكَانَ الرَّجُلُ يَمُرُّ مَعَهُ بِجَعْبَةٍ مِنَ النَّبْلِ، فَيَقُولُ “انْثُرْهَا لأَبِى طَلْحَةَ”. قَالَ: وَيُشْرِفُ النَّبِىُّ – صلى الله عليه وسلم – يَنْظُرُ إِلَى الْقَوْمِ، فَيَقُولُ أَبُو طَلْحَةَ: بِأَبِى أَنْتَ وَأُمِّى لاَ تُشْرِفْ؛ يُصِيبُكَ سَهْمٌ مِنْ سِهَامِ الْقَوْمِ، نَحْرِى دُونَ نَحْرِكَ، وَلَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ عَائِشَةَ بِنْتَ أَبِى بَكْرٍ وَأُمَّ سُلَيْمٍ، وَإِنَّهُمَا لَمُشَمِّرَتَانِ أَرَى خَدَمَ سُوقِهِمَا (38)، تَنْقُزَانِ الْقِرَبَ عَلَى مُتُونِهِمَا، [ثم 3/ 222] تُفْرِغَانِهِ فِى أَفْوَاهِ الْقَوْمِ، ثُمَّ تَرْجِعَانِ فَتَمْلآنِهَا، ثُمَّ تَجِيئَانِ فَتُفْرِغَانِهِ فِى أَفْوَاهِ الْقَوْمِ رواه البخاري في الجهاد (٢٨٨٠)، ومسلم في الجهاد (١٨١١: ١٣٦)
عَن أَنَسٍ، قال: جئن النساء إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقلن: يا رسول الله ذهب الرجال بالفضل والجهاد في سبيل الله فما لنا عمل ندرك به عمل المجاهدين في سبيل الله فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : من قعد -أو كلمة نحوها- منكن في بيتها فإنها تدرك عمل المجاهد في سبيل الله. وهذا الحديث لا نعلم رواه عن ثابتٍ إلاَّ روح بن المسيب وهو رجل من أهل البصرة مشهور. (مسند البزار)
5. The narration quoted above in #4 clearly proves that her place is at home. The verse of the Quraan Sharif clearly states that she should remain at home. What other proof is required, when this is categorically mentioned in the Quraan and Hadith.
Women have a brain that should be utilized in the correct avenues as instructed by Shariah such as, preparing for the hereafter, serving their husbands and thereby attaining the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala, nurturing their children in accordance to Shariah who will be a blessing to their parents and society. It is women who either make society or destroy society, depending on how they take care of their families. They definitely haven’t been blessed with a brain to oppose the teachings of Shariah, expose themselves like the women of the Kuffar in the universities and workplaces where they serve Na-Mahram men, nor have they been blessed with a brain to argue with their husbands since they feel they are educated and are on an equal pedestal with them, and letting their children grow up with the domestic helpers whose upbringing goes against the very grain of our Deen, etc. Where is the proof that Aisha Radiallahu Anha was an entrepreneur as we haven’t come across any such narration?
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date: 20 Rajab 1444 / 11 February 2023