The Danger of Women Participating in the Work Arena of Men
By His Eminence Shaykh Abdul Azeez bin Abdullah bin Baaz (ra)
All Praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and may the Prayer and Peace be upon His trustworthy Messenger and upon all his family and companions.
The open call, or its imitation, for women to go out to work in the same arena as men, result in the mixing of the sexes, citing the necessities of this age and the demand of civilization as proof, is indeed a very dangerous matter. It has dangerous ramifications, bitter fruits and disastrous consequences. And this call is made despite it conflicting with stipulations in Islamic law, which require a woman to remain in her home to fulfill the duties which are particular to her.
Whoever would like to see from closer proximity the immeasurable immorality which has been caused by the mixing of the sexes, then let him consider the fairness and impartiality, seeking only the truth, those societies which have succumbed, whether by choice or by force, to this affliction and he will find grievance and regret from both the individual and society because of the fleeting of the woman from her home and the breaking up of the family. This we find mentioned, not only by many authors, but throughout the media, solely because it is the society and its foundations.
There are many clear, authentic proofs which forbid the seclusion of man with "Al-Ajnabiyya"(Al-Ajnabiyyah: literally a foreign woman. It includes all those women who a man is permitted to marry by Islamic Law), his looking at her and those steps which lead to the occurrence of what Allah has forbidden. They are unequivocal in forbidding the mixing of men and women because it leads to what is not commendable.
The ousting of the woman from her home, which is her domain and base in this life, is her removal from the nature which Allah created her upon.
So the call for women to step into the arena of men is a matter of great danger for the Islamic Society. The resultant mixing of men and women is one of the leading causes of fornication, which fragments the society, cheapens its value and undermines its morality.
It is clear that Allah, The Blessed, The Exalted, created for women a particular physique which differs completely from the physique of man. With it, he prepared her to carry out her duties in her home and among women.
And so, the plunging of women into the arena designated for me must be considered her removal from her nature. This is a great injustice to a woman and is the extinguishing of her personality. The effect of this is passed on to both the males and females of the next generation. They are deprived of education, tenderness, and affection, a because the mother has been separated for her responsibility in these matters and completely removed from her domain, out of which it is not possible for her to find peace, stability and tranquility. The condition of those societies which are entangled in this is the strongest proof for what we say.
Islam has designated for each one of them to fulfill those duties in order that the building of the society, both inside and outside the home, may be completed.
The man is responsible for expenditure and earning while the woman is responsible for brining up the children, tenderness and affection, suckling the young, weaning them and all other duties appropriate to her, such as teaching the young and the management of their schooling, their medical care and so forth.
For a woman to abandon her household duties is tantamount to the ruin of the home and its occupants and there follows as a consequence the break up of the family, to such an extent that the society becomes but a form, an image with neither reality nor meaning.
Allah, The Sublime, The Exalted says:
"Men are the guardians of women due to the degree Allah has given to some over others and because of that which they spend of their wealth." (An-Nisaa 4:34)
This noble Ayaah (Ayaah – The Qu’ran is divided into 114 Soowar, or chapters. Each Soorah is divided into a variable number of Ayaat (plural). The total number of Ayaat in the Qur’an is 6236) points out that the custom of Allah is His creation that man has guardianship over women and is a degree above them.
The meaning of Allah’s ordering a women to be settled in her home and forbidding her from At-Tabbaraj (Literally for a woman to display of her beauty that which envelops the desires of men, and which it is obligatory for her to veil) is the prohibition of Al-Ikhilaat, which is the mixing of men and women in the same place of work buying and selling, picnics or travel and so forth. This is because the plunging of a woman in this arena leads to her falling into that which is forbidden and that is a violation of Allah’s command and the neglect of His Law, which it is obligatory for a Muslim woman to abide by.
The Quran and Traditions of the Prophet (SAW), both show that the mixing of the sexes and all that might lead to it, is not permissible.
Allah, The Sublime, The Exalted says:
"And remain settled in your houses and do not display of your beauty that which should be veiled as was the habit of those during former times of ignorance, and perform the prayer and pay the alms tax and obey Allah and his Messenger. Allah but wishes to remove evil deeds and sins from you, O members of the family or the Prophet (Peace and blessing be upon him), and to purify you completely." (Al-Ahzaab 33:33)
And so Allah ordered the mothers of the believers [Mother of the Believers: A title given to the Wives of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW)] and all Muslim women are included in that injunction, to be settled in their homes because in their homes because in that is their protection and their being distant from the causes of immorality. A woman leaving her home unnecessarily could lead to "At-Tabarraj" and other harm. The are also ordered to do righteous deeds, such as performance of the prayer, the paying of the alms tax and obedience to Allah and His Messenger (SAW), which all protect her from committing vile and reprehensible actions.
They are then directed to what will benefit them in this world and the next, which is to be in continual touch with the Quran and the Prophetic Traditions, both of which remove impurities from the heart and purify it from iniquity, guide to the truth and to that which is correct.
Allah, The Exalted says:
"O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to veil themselves with their Jalabeeb (Jalaabeeb: plural of Jalbaab. A loose outer garment that covers all of a woman’s body. Some of the commentators have said that a woman should cover with it her head and face, except one eye, in order it be known that she is a free woman and so not to be exposed to any harm); that is more befitting in order to distinguish them that they might not be harmed. And Allah is ever Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Al-Ahzaab 33:59)
And so Allah (SWT) ordered his Prophet (SAW), the transmitter of the Message from His Lord, to tell his wives and daughters and all the women of the believers to shroud themselves with their Jalabeeb if they had to go out for a particular need, in order that they would not suffer harm from people with corrupt hearts. And so if this matter is of such importance then imagine her stepping into the arena of men, mixing with them and exposing her need to them through employment and by so doing relinquishing much of her femininity and losing her modesty. All this, in order to achieve an equality of the two sexes which are different both in meaning and form.
Allah, The Sublime, The Exalted says:
"Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and to be chaste. That is purer for them. Allah is well aware of all they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and to be chaste and not to display their adornment except that which is apparent and to draw their khumaar (The Plural of Khimaar. It is what is used by a woman to cover her head. The commentators have stated that during the times of ignorance, before Islam, the women would leave their "khumaar" to drop down from behind and due to the widened opening of their gowns at the front, their necks and necklaces would be exposed) over their juyoob (Juyoob: The plural of Jayb. The original meaning of the word is the opening in a garment through which the head passes. Some of the commentators have stated that it refers to the position of the opening and so the meaning in the Aayah would be their breasts)." (An-Noor 24:30-31)
Allah ordered his Prophet, (SAW), to inform the believing men to lower their gaze and guard themselves again committing adultery and fornification and then He, The Exalted made clear that this was more befitting to them. It is clear that this was against committing adultery and fortification is achieved by avoiding its causes and there can be no doubt that leaving the eyes free to gaze, and the mixing of men and women at work and elsewhere are some of its major causes.
These two matters, lowering the eyes and guarding against immorality which are demanded from the believer, are impossible to achieve while he is working with "Al-Marr’a Al-Ajnabiyyah" (Al-Marr’a Al-Ajnabiyyyah: Literally a foreign woman. It includes all those women who a man is permitted to marry by Islamic Law) as her colleague or partner.
And so Allah ordered the believing women to lower their gaze and to be chaste and not to display their ornaments, except those which are openly apparent, He also commanded to let their head coverings fall down over their breasts, which would include her covering her head and face.
So how can the lowering of the eyes, chastity and the concealing of a woman’s adornment be achieved when she goes to work with men and mixes with them. How is it possible for a Muslim woman to lower her gaze while she is side by side with "Al-Ajnabee" (Al-Ajnabee: Literally a foreign man. It includes all those men who a woman is permitted to marry by Islamic Law), on the pretext that she is participating with him or is equal to him in all that he does?
Allah (SWT) has forbidden all the causes of that which is prohibited and so He has ordered women not to use enticing speech with me because that can awaken in men a desire for women.
Allah, the Exalted says:
"O wives of the Prophet! If you fear Allah then you are not like other women. So be not soft of speech lest he in whose heart is a disease should be moved with desire, so speak in a manner befitting you." (Al-Ahzaab 33:32)
When is meant is the sickness of lust, so how can that be avoided while the mixing of the sexes is occurring?
What is quite clear is that if she goes out to work with men she most certainly will speak with them and they will speak to her, and she will beautiful her speech for them and they for her. In addition to that, Satan makes immorality appealing and calls people to it, until they fall prey to him. And so Allah in His Wisdom has ordered women to be veiled. That is only because amongst people there are those who are righteous and pure and others who are adulters and fornicators. Thus, veiling prevents, Allah willing, temptation, hinders its causes and by it purity of heart of both men and women is achieved as well as the distancing of suspicion and accusation.
Allah, The Sublime, and Exalted say:
"And when you ask them (the Prophet’s wives) for anything, then ask them from behind a screen. That is purer for your hearts and for their hearts." (Al-Ahzaab 33:53)
And the best screen for a woman, after the covering of her face and body with clothes, is her house.
Islam has forbidden women to mix with "Al-Ajaanib" (Al-Ajaanib: Plural of Al-Ajnabee) so that she does not expose herself to temptation, directly or indirectly. It requires her to be settled in the house and not to go out, except when obligated to and do so with the decency required by Islam. Allah has termed her remaining in her home "Qaraaran" (Qaraaran: Literally being settled, stable, steady, or still) and in it is the subtlest of meanings, because it contains the settling of herself and the tranquility and delight of her heart. The leaving of that stability leads to the disturbance of her heart. The leaving of that stability leads to the disturbance of her heart and her exposure to that whose outcome is not commendable.
Islam has prohibited a man’s seclusion with "Al-Ajnabiyyah" under any circumstances, and it has forbidden her to travel except with her "Mahram" (Mahram: A person who is not permitted for a woman to marry by Islamic Law, such as her father or brother) in order to curtail the deception of Satan. For this reason Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said:
"I have not left behind me a trail more harmful to men than women."
He (SAW) said:
"Be wary of the life of this world and be on your guard against women because the first trail for the Israelites was through women."
It is possible that some of those who call for the mixing of the sexes depend upon the superficial meaning of some other texts of law, and the real meaning and purpose of which are not perceived except by he whose heart has been illuminated by Allah and who has been giving understanding of Allah’s religion and has gathered all the evidence together, until it has been unified in his mind, so that no part of it is separated from any other part.
A misunderstanding has occurred, for instance, because some women accompanied the Prophet (SAW) on some military expeditions. The correct explanation for this, however, is that they did so with their "Maharam" (Mahaarim: Plural of Mahram).
It is clear that a woman’s leaving her home in order to work, is a completely different situation when the women went out with Allah’s Prophet (SAW) on a military expedition. So to compare the one with the other must be considered an incorrect analogy. We must also ask what it was that the rightly guided predecessors understood concerning this matter. There can be no doubt that they understand the meanings of the text better than other people and were close to the implementation of the injunctions of the Quran and the Traditions of the Prophet (SAW). So what has been constantly been related by them throughout history? Have they extended the range of a woman’s activity, as those who call for the mixing of men and women claim, and thus reported that what has been mentioned in the texts is that a woman can work in every field of life with men, so that she competes with them and they compete with her? Or did they understand that these matters were limited and did not go beyond them?
If we examine the Islamic conquests and military expeditions throughout history, we do not find this mixing of men and women. However, the call today for the recruitment of a woman as a solider, who carries weapons and kills like a man, is nothing more than a reason for the breakdown of the morals of the army, in the name of "relaxation" for the army. This is because there occurs quite naturally between a man and a woman, affection, intimacy, and relaxation through conversation when they are alone together and as one thing can lead to another, it is wiser and more prudent and further from future regret to close the door to temptation.
And so the prime objective of Islam is the promoting of that which is beneficial and the averting of evil, and closing the doors of its causes. It has been mentioned previously that the mixing of men and women at work is a major cause for the decline of a people and the corruption of its society. It is also an historical fact that one of the main reasons for the decline and decay that happened to the old Roman and Greek civilizations like them, was the emergence of the woman from her particular domain into that of the man and their competing together. This led to the corruption of the morals of men and their abandoning that which would push the community to a material and spiritual development. Also, if the woman is busy outside the home, this leads to the man becoming idle, causing a decline and collapse of their role, and the corruption of the family, causing the collapse of its structure and the corruption of the morals of the children. As well as this, it also leads to the violation of the principles which Allah has declared in the Quran, which is that man has been placed as the guardian.
It is also the objective of Islam to distance a woman from everything which contrary her nature and so she is prohibited from being entrusted with public governorship, such as leadership of the country, the administration of the law, and all the duties which carry public responsibilities. This is because the Prophet (SAW) said:
"Never would a community succeed which entrusted the direction of their affairs to a woman." (Related by Al-Bukhaaree in his collection of authentic Hadeeth)
And so the opening of the door for her to step into the arena of men must be considered contradictory to what Islam wants for her of happiness and stability. And so Islam prohibits the enlisting of a woman to that which is outside her proper arena and field of activity.
Besides what has been mentioned in the Quran, and the Traditions of the Prophet (SAW) concerning the difference between their two natures and duties, experience has also proved, especially in those societies where men mix freely with women, that men and women are not nature equal. Those who call for the equality of the fair sex with men are either ignorant or pretending to be ignorant of the basic differences between them.
The preceding Fatwaa (Legal Decision) was taken from the book entitled "Mushaarikatul Marr’a Lirrajuli Fee Maydaan ‘Amaliihee" by His Eminence Shaykh Abdul Azeez bin Abdullah bin Baaz (ra).
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail - 50x more storage than other providers!
///// MEDIA JIM: Memurnikan Tanggapan Umum Melalui Penyebaran Ilmu dan Maklumat
//////////////////////////////////
Nota: Kandungan mel ini tidak menggambarkan pendirian rasmi Pertubuhan
Jamaah Islah Malaysia (JIM) melainkan yang dinyatakan sedemikian.
Berminat menjadi ahli JIM? Sila isi borang keahlian "online" di: http://www.jim.org.my/forms/borang_keahlian.htm
Langganan : Hantar E-mail kosong ke
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Unsub : Hantar E-mail kosong ke
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
| Yahoo! Groups Sponsor | |
|
|
Yahoo! Groups Links
- To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/islah-net/
- To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
- Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
