Women’s Corner
Leaving the home for work during the waiting period for a widow
Q: What do the scholars of Islam say concerning the following matter: What is the ruling of a widow leaving her home to work during her waiting period, if she does so observing the rulings of veiling?
بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ
اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ
A: It is not permitted for a woman to exit her home during her waiting period. However, if a widow has no money to cover her expenses and therefore must leave to earn, she is permitted to do so during the daytime observing the rulings of veiling, but she must spend the majority of the night in her home.
If she has sufficient wealth in her possession or can work from home to cover her expenses, she will not have permission to leave her home. This is because permission to exit the home for such a woman is based upon necessity, and when this is not established, leaving her residence is no longer permitted.
The specific answer to the scenario described in the question is that if the woman cannot avoid leaving the home as she needs to earn due to expenses, she will be permitted to exit for the purpose of work, whilst observing the conditions mentioned before.
It should be remembered that for employment to be permissible for a woman, some preconditions must be fulfilled. If any one of these is not found, her employment will be impermissible. Explaining the details of this, Imam Aḥmad Razā Khān رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه writes:
There are five conditions here: 1) Her clothing should not be so thin that any part of her body, which must be veiled, becomes visible, e.g., her hair, her forearm, etc.2) her clothing should not be tight, revealing the shape of the body. 3) No part of her hair, throat, stomach, forearm or shin should become visible. 4) She should never be alone with a non-maḥram for even a short period of time. 5) There should be no likely element of discord during travel and while at work.
If these five conditions are all fulfilled, there is no harm. If even one is missing, it (her working) will be prohibited.
وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ اَعْلَم صلَّی اللہ علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم
Answered by: Mufti Muḥammad Qasim Qadiri
Burning the hair which falls during combing
Q: What do the scholars of Islam say concerning the following matter: Some women collect hair that falls after combing and burn it. What is the ruling related to this?
بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ
اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ
A: The human being in his entirety is worthy of honour. It is not permitted to dispose of hair or nails in a way that opposes this natural honour. Burning hair is unbefitting, and is therefore not allowed. If possible, hair should be put into flowing water or buried. If this is not possible, hair can be placed in a clean place, and in the case of women, no non-maḥram should see their hair.
وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ اَعْلَم صلَّی اللہ علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم
Answered by: Mawlana Muhammad Hassan Attari
Verified by: Mufti Muhammad Qasim Attari
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