Women prohibited from venturing outdoors to earn a living
Question:-
We as women are prohibited from going out and earning our living. At the same time, our husbands go out to earn a living. At their work places, they interact with women and even cast lustful glances and engage in conversation with them. So, why can’t we as women also then go out to work?
Answer:-
In Islam, it is the job of the man to venture outdoors and earn one’s sustenance. As for the women, the Quraan states that they should remain within the confines of their homes. However, to afford and pay for the lavish lifestyles that we desire, all the household members (both males and females) go out to work. It is for this reason that many parents educate their daughters (through universities) so that they may enjoy financial freedom later in life. This is against the very grain of Shariah. Also, due to living in a non-Muslim country, we find non-Muslim women being employed by majority of the businesses and companies.
Now, after understanding the above, you will realize that your husband is within his rights to go out and work, and women in the workplace is something beyond our control. Yes, controlling our gazes, our chastity, minimizing our interaction with the opposite gender, confining our discussions to the bare necessity, is within our control and this is what is required of us in Shariah. As long as your husband doesn’t have an alternate job, he should remain at the current job and control himself as explained above. In the case of any deficiency in any of the above matters, he should resort to Taubah, and he should keep supplicating before Almighty Allah to grant him a job which entails no interaction, or minimal interaction, with the opposite gender. Establishing a relationship with a Sheikh of Tasawwuf will also be of great benefit.
In conclusion, to lower the gaze and interact with the opposite gender is possible as the injunction of lowering the gaze is a clearly mentioned in the Quraan Sharif. If it was not possible, then the Quraan wouldn’t have commanded us to do so, as the Quraan Sharif doesn’t command anything that is futile. So, constantly lowering the gaze is with every person’s ability.
ALLAH TAÁLA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date: 07 Jumad-al-Ula 1443 / 12 December 2021