Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

As Salaam Aleikum,

First i would like to thank you for your e-mails and i would like to say i have found many of them interesting and informative.

I have a query regrding women in Islam. It has been claimed by many who

claim to be "true muslims" that a muslim women should not be educated and should not be allowed to join the workforce. If all muslims are obliged

to read the Holy Qu'ran then this means they must have some form of education to do so. I think that its people like these, such as was under the

Taliban who did not allow a women to be educated who use this as a tool so that they can teach these women what they want them to know about their rights in Islam because they are denied many of them. I have read that the Holy prophet Mohamed (SAW) commanded fellow Muslims to read and preached the importance of education for both men and women. I have also read that Fatima, the prophets daughter was a highly educated woman. In terms of women working, i find it difficult to believe that if a women that both works and takes care of her family and her husband to their satisfaction is considered haram as she should't join the workforce. I would appreciate it if you could let me know your thoughts on these issues that i have raised. Thank You.

Wasalam

 

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Answer:

 

Education and working women

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol,  no person,  no grave, no prophet,  no imam,  no dai,  nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Your Statement: It has been claimed by many who claim to be "true muslims" that a muslim women should not be educated and should not be allowed to join the workforce.

The ‘truest’ muslim who ever walked on this planet earth was the person of the noble Messenger of Allah, Mohamed ar-Rasool Allah (saws); and he encouraged the believing woman to educate herself and never ever discouraged the woman from working!  

 

The wife of the Prophet (saws), Hadrat Aisha (r.a.), is regarded as one of the greatest scholars in Islam; and after the death of the Messenger of Allah (saws) many of the noble companions of the Messenger of Allah used to approach her to learn Islam from her.

 

The wife of the Prophet (saws), Hadrat Khadijah was a businesswoman and trader herself, and she employed Prophet Mohamed (saws) to travel and trade her goods before he (saws) was appointed the Prophet of Allah (saws)! 

 

Islam absolutely encourages the believing woman to educate herself, and never ever discourages the believing woman to work!  And in the lives of the wives and daughters of the Messenger of Allah (saws) and his noble companions are ample examples of the educated and working believing woman in Islam.

 

Nowhere in the Quran and Sunnah is there an iota of evidence where Allah and His Messenger (saws) have ever discouraged or forbidden the believing woman from gaining education, or from working if she wishes to do so or the need arises.  

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your Brother in Islam,

 

 

Burhan