Salah, Zakah, obeying Allah and His Messenger keeping them away from doing evil. He directs them to what benefits them in this worldly life and in the Hereafter, such as reciting the Qur'an and studying the Hadith frequently, as they both purify the hearts and guide them to the Truth.
O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (i.e. screen themselves completely except the eyes or one eye to see the way). That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allâh is Ever OftForgiving, Most Merciful.
to cover their bodies completely when they leave their houses when necessary to escape the harm of those people with weak faith. How about working in the same places, free intermixing, expressing her demands to them, relinquishing her femininity and losing her shyness so that harmony is achieved between the two sexes in form and content.
Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts). That is purer for them. Verily, Allâh is AllAware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent (like both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer palms of hands or one eye or dress like veil, gloves, headcover, apron, etc.), and to draw their veils all over Juyûbihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms)
Allah orders His Prophet (peace be upon him) to inform the believing men and women to lower their gaze and abstain from committing illicit sexual acts. Allah (Glorified be He) emphasizes the merit of this value. It is known that guarding one's private parts can be realized through avoiding the means that lead to committing adultery. Undoubtedly, gazing and free intermixing of men and women in workplaces are dangerous means that lead to committing adultery. A believer can not fulfill those two requirements while working with an Ajnabiyyah (woman lawful for the man to marry) in the same place. It is impossible for the two sexes to lower their gaze, guard their private parts, and purify their soul while working in the same place.
at the workplace? Free intermixing of men and women could certainly lead to committing these forbidden acts. How can a Muslim woman lower her gaze while walking with an Ajnaby (man lawful for the woman to marry) side by side on the plea of being a workmate or that she is equal to him?
O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women. If you keep your duty (to Allâh), then be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy, or evil desire for adultery) should be moved with desire
And when you ask (his wives) for anything you want, ask them from behind a screen: that is purer for your hearts and for their hearts.
I am not leaving behind me any trial more harmful to men than women.
So beware of the beguilements of the world and those of women. The first trial of the Children of Israel was in women
of Allah (peace be upon him) in some battles. In reply, these women accompanied their Mahrams. They went out for many interests, which will not lead to corruption for their faith and Taqwa (fearing Allah as He should be feared), and their Mahrams used to look after them. They were also wearing Hijab unlike women of the present time. It is evident that the case of women going out to work is completely different from the case of the female Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet). It is not appropriate to make an analogy between the two cases as it is not completely corresponding. What is the meaning derived by the Salaf (righteous predecessors) who were the most knowledgeable people in the meanings of the legal texts and their application? What are the statements traced to them in this regard? Did they call for working in the fields that are for men? Did they call for free intermixing of men and women? On the contrary, they understood that those were only special cases.
Never will succeed such a people who place a woman in charge of their affairs.
(Related by AlBukhari in his Sahih (authentic) book of Hadith)
English writer Lady Cook said that men like and prefer a mixed environment. And thus women are lured to something that conflicts with their human nature. The greater the coed. environment (between male and female), the more illegitimate children the society will have. This is the greatest disaster, she said, urging people to learn women that men are luring.
The philosopher Schopenhauer said, "Hence, with that absurd arrangement which allows them to share the rank and title of their husbands, they are a constant stimulus to his ignoble ambitions. And, furthermore, it is just because they are Philistines that modern society, where they take the lead and set the tone, is in such a bad way."
Lord Byron said, "Thought of the state of women under the ancient Greeks convenient enough. Present state, a remnant of the barbarism of the chivalric and the feudal ages artificial and unnatural. They ought to mind home and be well fed and clothed but not mixed in society."
The British writer Samuel Smiles said, "The system that has required women to work in factories and industrial areas, regardless of the national wealth it brings, has destroyed the family life. It has attacked, in fact, the basic structure and foundations of the home and destroyed the essential pillars of the family. It has cut and destroyed social ties as well.
Stripping the wife from her husband, and depriving children of their rights of proper, tender and maternal care, has resulted in lower moral values for the women. The real job and profession of a woman is to raise a good, sound and moral family. She is mainly required to take care of household responsibilities, home economics and other domestic needs. Work in factories has stripped the woman, as we pointed earlier, of all these responsibilities which changed the looks and the realities of the inner home. Children, as well, were often neglected and raised with no sound standards. The love and affection between a husband and wife were somewhat extinguished. The woman was no longer the sought after, wanted, admired and loved by man, after he got used to seeing her in the factory next to him doing the same thing he does. Women came
under many influences and pressures that changed her mentality and thinking pattern on which moral values and virtues were established.
An American professor called Adeline said that the reason for family crises in the United States and the increase in the crime rate is because a woman has abandoned her house in order to double the family's income. The income increased but the morals declined. She added that woman's return to her house is the only way to save the new generations from deterioration.
A Congressman said a woman can truly serve her country if she stays at her house which is the essence of a family.
Another Congressman said when Allah granted women the ability to produce children, He made it her duty to stay in her house to take care of children and not leave them to work outside her house.
German philosopher Schopenhauer also said, "Grant woman total and absolute freedom for one year only, and check with me after that to see the results of such freedom. Do not forget that you (all), along with me, will feel sad at the loss of virtue, chastity and good morals. If I die (before then) you are free to say either: "He was wrong!" or "He hit the heart of the truth!" These quotations were mentioned by Dr. Mustafa Husny Al-Siba`y (may Allah be merciful with him) in his book 'Al-Mar'ah bayn Al-Fiqh wa Al-Qanun'.
Following and gathering the numerous sayings of the unbiased Western writers on the disadvantages of free intermixing of men and women that followed after women's participation with men at work may form volumes. However, the above quotations are enough.
In conclusion, it is better for a woman to stay in her house and carry out her domestic duties after performing her religious obligations as it is suitable for her natural dispositions. It is for the sake of her welfare as well as that of society and the youth. She may spend her spare time in fields that are for women, such as teaching, curing, and nursing women. Thus, they cooperate with men in developing society but each in one's field. We are not to forget the role of the Mothers of the Believers and those who followed in their footsteps in teaching, directing, guiding the nation, and conveying the Message of Allah (Glorified be He) from His Messenger (peace be upon him). May Allah reward them the best! There are many Muslim women who are following in their footsteps while wearing Hijab and staying away from free intermixing with men in their workplaces.
May Allah help us carry out our duties in the best manner that pleases Him and protect us all from the means to Fitnah and Satanic tricks. He is the Most Generous. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon His servant and Messenger, our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.