Feel properly shy and shy sincerely.

Feel properly shy and shy sincerely.

The basic principle is that a woman should remain at home, and not go out except for any genuine need as Allah says:

“And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance” (33:33)

Although this is addressed to the wives of the Prophet (Pbuh), it also applies to the believing women. It is only addressed to the wives of the Prophet (pbuh) because of their honour and status with the Messenger of Allah (Pbuh) and because they are examples for the believing women. 

The Prophet (Pbuh) said: “Woman is ‘awrah, and if she goes out, the shaytaan raises his hopes (of misguiding her). She is never closer to Allah than when she stays in her house.” (Narrated by Ibn Hibbaan and Ibn Khuzaymah; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Shaheehah, no. 2688)

And he (Pbuh) said concerning a woman’s prayer in the mosque: “Their houses are better for them.” (Abu Dawood 567)

It is permissible for a woman to go out of her house for work, but that is subject to certain conditions. If they are met, it is permissible for her to go out. They are: 

1. There should be any genuine need for her to work

Example: if her husband is not earning properly or the amount of money he is earning is not sufficient to run the family. 

2 If she works, then the work she is doing should be suited to the nature of woman, such as medicine, nursing, teaching, sewing, and so on.

3 The work should be in a place that is only for women, and there should be no mixing with non-mahram men.

4 Whilst at work she should observe complete shar’i hijab.

5 Her work should not lead to her travelling without a mahram.

6 Her going out to work should not involve committing any haraam action, such as being alone with the driver, or wearing perfume where non-mahrams can smell it.

7 That should not lead to her neglecting things that are more essential for her, such as looking after her house, husband and children. 

The field in which a woman works should be only for women, such as if she works in teaching girls, whether in administration or technical support, or she works at home as a seamstress sewing clothes for women and so on. As for working in fields that are for men, this is not permissible for her because it requires her to mix with men, which is a great fitnah and should be avoided. It should be noted that it is proven that the Prophet (pbuh) said: I have not left behind me any fitnah that is more harmful to men than women