Women Doing Business

Question: Can women run a man?s business if he has to be away in jamaaa'ah or for any other reason? Will it affect his earnings in any way?

Answer: It is not at all permissible for a woman to be in a business and transact with non-Mahram men without Hijaab regardless of whether her husband is out in Jamaa'ah. Hajj or any reason whatsoever.

It is Fardh (obligatory) for women to observe Hijaab according to the Qur'aan, the sayings of Rasulullaah SAW. and the unanimous verdicts of the Sahabah . the Taabi'een. those after them and all the pious predecessors of Islaam.

Allaah instructs women. saying. "do not make a display of yourselves as was the practice of (women during) the former period of ignorance.

The practice of making a display of themselves without Hijaab is not a new fashion, but was prevalent before Islaam. The above verse refers to the former" Period of
Ignorance, thereby prophesying that another such period will soon arrive (which we are witnessing).

Allaah emphatically instructs women saying. ""Remain in your homes and (when it is absolutely necessary to leave your homes, leave properly clothed and) do not make a display of yourselves as was the practice of (women during) the former period of ignorance.

When something is required from women, the instruction is also clear, when Allaah says, "When you ask them (women) for anything, then ask them from behind a curtain (without seeing them). This is purer for your hearts and for their hearts (for it safeguards you from evil thoughts and desires).

Of course, women will need to leave their homes for certain reason. With regard to this, Allaah says, "O Nabi SAW. Tell your wives, your daughters and the women of the Mu'mineen that (when they have to leave their homes for some necessity) they should draw down their ?jalaabeeb? over themselves.

In fact, whereas women may not wear anything that touches their faces while in Ihraam, they need to cover their faces when non-Mahram men pass by. Hadhrat Aa'isha RADI. reports that while performing Hajj, they covered their faces whenever men passed by and then opened them up again as soon as the men had left (because it is forbidden to cover the face while in Ihraam).

The above verses of the Qur'aan directly address the wives of Rasulullaah SAW. who are regarded as the mothers of all Muslims. They are revered by all Muslims and it is also Haraam for anyone to marry them. If the laws applied to them, how can our women chatting to men in the shops be exempted from these injunctions?

It all really boils down to modesty, which was actually one of the hallmarks and natural traits of the Ambiyaa ALY. Rasulullaah SAW. also stated that modesty is an integral part of Imaan.

THE AHADEETH OF RASULULLAAH SAW.

1. Rasulullaah SAW. also said, "A woman is an object of concealment, so? when she leaves her home, Shaytaan ogles at her. All people who look lustfully at a woman are actually Shayaateen because they act in the? same way. A woman should therefore never leave home without necessity.

2. Another Hadith states. "Allaah curses the one who looks (at a non- Mahram woman) and the one who is looked at.

3. This curse is because looking at a non-Mahram woman is really fornication because a Hadith states that the looking is fornication of the eyes.

4. A Hadith from Hadhrat Jaabir RADI. states that a woman arrives in the form of a Shaytaan and leaves in the form of a Shaytaan. This means that she incites passions and lust from every angle wherever she goes.

5. It is because of this that Rasulullaah SAW. instructed that a woman should not leave the house except when absolutely necessary.

In fact, when someone claimed to be the father of Ummul Mu'mineen Hadhrat Sauda RADI. step-brother who was born to her father's slave girl. Rasulullaah SAW. rejected the claim. However, Rasulullaah SAW. instructed Hadhrat Sauda RADI. to veil herself from the brother as a precaution (because the boy resembles the other man). She therefore never saw him as long as she lived.

Hadhrat Hasan RAH. said, "Do you allow your women to bump into Kuffaar men in the marketplaces? May Allaah destroy those who are not protective (over their women).
Majaalisul Abraar states: "The more a woman remains at home. the safer it isfor her Deen. This is deduced from a Hadith in which Rasulullaah SAW. once asked his daughter Hadhrat Faatima RADI. what is best for a woman. She replied, 'That she does not see men and they do not see her.' Rasulullaah SAW. liked her reply very much. embraced her and said, 'Families are all one from another.

The gist of it all is that the Shari'ah of Islaam does not allow men to place their woman in their businesses, even if they have to leave with the Tablighi Jamaa'ah When a woman is not allowed to recite Qiraa'ah loudly in salaah and to recite even the Talbiya loudly how can she speak freely to non- Mahram men? While the money earned by her doing business is not Haraam. the manner of acquiring the wealth is not permissible and sinful And Allaah knows best what is most correct.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah vol.3