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:

AsSalam O Alaikum Dear Scholar,
I have read this fatwa at some website on the money investment of a working lady. Context of Fatwa is as under:

" It is her prerogative to do with her earnings as she pleases. She may lend her money or pay off her parents` mortgage or even give all of it in charity. As long as she is doing nothing wrong according to Islamic doctrines, she is allowed to do as she sees fit. No one, not even you can say anything about her money. Keep in mind that whatever debt she incurs is an obligation she brings upon herself. "

But when i discussed this fatwa with my friend there was one other logic that if a husband is allowing a lady to do job it means she have to contribute in housely matters. And also job is not allowed for ladies in Islam ( in a sense that lady has to work with men). Can u elaborate on it. I be greatful to you. Allah hafiz

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Women not allowed to work

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: ….And also job is not allowed for ladies in Islam ( in a sense that lady has to work with men). Can u elaborate on it. I be greatful to you.

Although Islam has laid the complete and total financial responsibility of running the house and the family on the shoulders of the man, Islam does not at all forbid or prohibit the believing woman from working and earning, if she desires to do so; provided she fulfills the rights that are due from her to her husband and her family in full and the work does not violate any of the dictates of the deen.

The exact same conditions that apply for a believing man who works and earns, would also apply to the believing woman who desires to work and earn:

1. The nature of the job or work must be lawful in its essence (cannot deal in the unlawful like wine, prostitution, gambling, etc.)
2. When dealing or inter-acting with non-mehram members of the opposite sex, one do so in a strictly business-like manner.

Thus in essence, as long as the duty that Islam has laid upon the believing woman is not violated by her time and energy spent on her work, there is absolutely no harm and no restriction in a believing woman working and earning.

Your Question: …..But when i discussed this fatwa with my friend there was one other logic that if a husband is allowing a lady to do job it means she have to contribute in housely matters.

Islam has permitted the believing woman the right to possess her own wealth and property, regardless of whether she inherited the wealth, or her loved one’s gifted it to her, or she earned it herself through working or through investments. She is the sole owner of her own wealth and property…she herself alone is responsible to pay its zakah dues….and she herself alone has the authority to spend her wealth wherever she wills and pleases.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 34:

34 Men are the protectors and maintainers of women because Allah has given the one more than the other, and because they support them from their means.

Islam has laid the complete financial responsibility of the upkeep of the womenfolk on the shoulders of the men (her father, her husband, her sons, etc.). It is the duty and responsibility of the men in her life to support her from their earnings….the woman, even if she is a millionaire is not duty bound or obligated in the least to spend even a cent of her own wealth on her upkeep or her house, if she does not wish to do so; it is the men in her lives who are duty bound to spend on her upkeep!

But if the woman who is blessed with abundance, of her own free will and pleasure and without any coercion or hints or force whatsoever, wishes to share a part of her husband’s burden and spend a part of her wealth on the upkeep of her house or herself, she is well within her rights to do so.

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan