At a time when Muslim practices are being questioned globally, understanding Islamic practices becomes increasingly important. Human rights bodies have criticized many Islamic practice esp those involving women, saying that it limits women’s social, economic and political participation.
Islam is an extremely reified religious tradition, and its doctrines, precepts and practices are considered to be universal. However, all Islamic societies contain a mixture of local pre-Islamic practice and behavior(uruf zaman jahilia), resulting in the present cultural diversity among the followers of Islam. And one of the pre-Islamic practice that have sip through is the segregation of men and women.
The practice of some Muslim women staying at home so as to avoid mixing with men, other than their husbands and mahram can be traced back to a verse of the Quran, which is directed specifically to the Prophet(pbuh) wives:
"O wives of the Prophet, you are not like anyone among women. If you fear Allah , then do not be soft in speech [to men], lest he in whose heart is disease should covet, but speak with appropriate speech. And abide in your houses and do not display yourselves as [was] the display of the former times of ignorance. "
(QS 33:32, 33)
Please bear in mind that the wives of the Prophet(pbuh) were in unique situation, because they were the wifes of a Prophet of God and also the Head of State. And they were given the title 'Mother of the Believers'(Ummul Mukminin). And they had the responsibilities of teaching and spreading Islam to other women.
Nevertheless, the wives of the Prophet were not forbidden to go out. There was a hadith from Aisyah ra in Sahih Bukhari that narrates one of the Prophet wives asked him if women are allowed to go out, and the Prophet(pbuh) replied, "Women are allowed to go out for their needs".
Furthermore, women in the Prophet time saw fit to work, attend gatherings, pray in the mosque, travel long journeys in caravans including hijrah from Makkah to Madinah and performing Hajj. Women are even allowed to fight battles alongside men, all away from homes.
And the best example, is Khatijah ra, who was the wife of the Prophet(pbuh). She was one of the most successful business women of her times. The Caliph Umar ibn Khattab ra appointed a woman, Shaffa bint Abdullah bin Abdush-Shams, as Chief Administrator of a market place. She would stand in the middle of the crowd administering and justifying fairness in business transaction among men and women traders in the busy market.
If Islam had prescribed strict segregation of the sexes, it would surely been prescribed for the great gathering of Hajj. Instead, both sexes perform the Hajj together and it is even prohibited for a women to cover her face(seclusion) during Hajj. In fact, a true Islamic society requires women to take up profession such as doctors, gynecologists, female nurses, teachers etc to cater to the women needs.
In Islam, if any Muslim women has the desire and the means go out and work(career), she is free to do so. However, they are required to have consent from their husband or wali(if unmarried) first. In modern times like today, sometimes it's hard for only a spouse to be the only bread winner in the family, therefore if the wife could help out to ease the burden of her husband, this is highly recommended as long as the financial obligation(kewajipan nafkah) is not put on her shoulder. It is put on the shoulder of the man in the family.
However, working women are required to dress modestly in accordance with the requirements of Hijab and not to mix unnecessarily with men. These practices are designed to help preserve morality in the society and to protect family life. They should avoid flirtatious manners and behave themselves in obedience of Allah SWT instructions(QS 24:30, 31)
A women in Islam, if she wishes to work she can work(or do business). There is no text in the Qur’an or the authentic Hadith which prevents or makes it prohibited for a woman to do any work, as long as it is not unlawful, as long as it is within the preview of the Islamic Shariah, as long as she maintains her behavior and the Islamic dress code(tutup aurat).
Wallahu'alam
Please bear in mind that the wives of the Prophet(pbuh) were in unique situation, because they were the wifes of a Prophet of God and also the Head of State. And they were given the title 'Mother of the Believers'(Ummul Mukminin). And they had the responsibilities of teaching and spreading Islam to other women.
Nevertheless, the wives of the Prophet were not forbidden to go out. There was a hadith from Aisyah ra in Sahih Bukhari that narrates one of the Prophet wives asked him if women are allowed to go out, and the Prophet(pbuh) replied, "Women are allowed to go out for their needs".
Furthermore, women in the Prophet time saw fit to work, attend gatherings, pray in the mosque, travel long journeys in caravans including hijrah from Makkah to Madinah and performing Hajj. Women are even allowed to fight battles alongside men, all away from homes.
And the best example, is Khatijah ra, who was the wife of the Prophet(pbuh). She was one of the most successful business women of her times. The Caliph Umar ibn Khattab ra appointed a woman, Shaffa bint Abdullah bin Abdush-Shams, as Chief Administrator of a market place. She would stand in the middle of the crowd administering and justifying fairness in business transaction among men and women traders in the busy market.
If Islam had prescribed strict segregation of the sexes, it would surely been prescribed for the great gathering of Hajj. Instead, both sexes perform the Hajj together and it is even prohibited for a women to cover her face(seclusion) during Hajj. In fact, a true Islamic society requires women to take up profession such as doctors, gynecologists, female nurses, teachers etc to cater to the women needs.
In Islam, if any Muslim women has the desire and the means go out and work(career), she is free to do so. However, they are required to have consent from their husband or wali(if unmarried) first. In modern times like today, sometimes it's hard for only a spouse to be the only bread winner in the family, therefore if the wife could help out to ease the burden of her husband, this is highly recommended as long as the financial obligation(kewajipan nafkah) is not put on her shoulder. It is put on the shoulder of the man in the family.
However, working women are required to dress modestly in accordance with the requirements of Hijab and not to mix unnecessarily with men. These practices are designed to help preserve morality in the society and to protect family life. They should avoid flirtatious manners and behave themselves in obedience of Allah SWT instructions(QS 24:30, 31)
A women in Islam, if she wishes to work she can work(or do business). There is no text in the Qur’an or the authentic Hadith which prevents or makes it prohibited for a woman to do any work, as long as it is not unlawful, as long as it is within the preview of the Islamic Shariah, as long as she maintains her behavior and the Islamic dress code(tutup aurat).
Wallahu'alam
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