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Thread on women working:
here’s an interesting perspective!
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here’s an interesting perspective!
I know a lot of people quote Khadijah (rali) as an example. But I wouldn’t look at “work” in that angle. If you look at the stories in the Quran and Sunnah, the common theme is that WOMEN WERE USEFUL.
For eg: 1. the daughters of the old man, one of whom Musa (alai) married.
For eg: 1. the daughters of the old man, one of whom Musa (alai) married.
They were useful to their father (he was old)by bringing the flock of sheep to the watering hole.
2. Aisha (rali) taught the people around everything she knew, from medicine to history to the teachings of the Prophet (sal).
3. Khadijah (rali) was the pillar of support that
2. Aisha (rali) taught the people around everything she knew, from medicine to history to the teachings of the Prophet (sal).
3. Khadijah (rali) was the pillar of support that
our beloved Messenger (sal) relied upon during his initial years of preaching in Makkah.
So this was during the times of the Prophet (sal)
Today, in our modern luxury world, things happen differently.
So this was during the times of the Prophet (sal)
Today, in our modern luxury world, things happen differently.
If there is someone who is teaching people beneficial knowledge, they would charge a payment per hour and we call them a teacher.
If there is a woman taking care of animals and livestock, we call them a domestic or farm worker and pay them a wage.
The situation hasn’t changed
If there is a woman taking care of animals and livestock, we call them a domestic or farm worker and pay them a wage.
The situation hasn’t changed
It’s still the same. The difference is that, back in days of the Prophets people did things for the good of it. Now women do useful things in return of payment.
For example, if a woman is really good at tailoring, then she tailors clothes (as a benefit to society because we need tailors) and receives a payment in return.
If the same woman was good at accounting, then she works as an accountant to serve the benefit of businesses and
If the same woman was good at accounting, then she works as an accountant to serve the benefit of businesses and
receives a payment in return for her service.
Now, here’s the tricky part.
Muslim women must absolutely know when and where they are “being used” vs “being useful”.
Now, here’s the tricky part.
Muslim women must absolutely know when and where they are “being used” vs “being useful”.
It might seem extremely difficult for someone who looks at women as a vulnerable group of people. But however, with enough principles of Islamic modesty and self respect in place, Muslim women CAN BE USEFUL IN SOME WAY.
Once again, this sense of usefulness is not limited to simply going out into the market place, it can also be:
1. Being an excellent mom
2. Being a huge strength to the family/husband/kids
3. Being an example to the rest of the females
4. Being an excellent observer/intellectual
1. Being an excellent mom
2. Being a huge strength to the family/husband/kids
3. Being an example to the rest of the females
4. Being an excellent observer/intellectual
But this becomes an issue, when a man dictates what the woman needs to be. That cannot happen.
It is not Islamic and it will never be Islamic.
It is not Islamic and it will never be Islamic.
So why can’t women “be useful” for free?
1. Payment needs to be in place to ensure that the woman is in a legal contract. Otherwise she isn’t protected by law and it amounts to slavery.
1. Payment needs to be in place to ensure that the woman is in a legal contract. Otherwise she isn’t protected by law and it amounts to slavery.
2. We live in a society that with high opportunity cost. Females are sacrificing some amount of personal time to “be useful”. This should be at least compensated.
3. Working for free breaks all the criteria of contract law. Thus it is impossible to do in today’s day and age.
3. Working for free breaks all the criteria of contract law. Thus it is impossible to do in today’s day and age.
4. A husband/father/Mahram can pass away at any point. If a woman works for free while depending completely on a male, and if he passes away, then what happens to her?
Working in a well paying position requires experience. This is how the world works. Limiting a woman while the male is alive is not beneficial for her. She might struggle later on after he passes away.
This is also an issue that rises because we don’t have Muslim leaders with wholesome visions for this planet.
For example, if a righteous Muslim was leading this world, I wouldn’t mind sending my daughter or sister to go and join the workforces and contribute to society.
For example, if a righteous Muslim was leading this world, I wouldn’t mind sending my daughter or sister to go and join the workforces and contribute to society.
However, since we don’t live in such a society, males become overprotective and do not want to send their females out to the capitalist society that we live in. Kudos to the males who are protecting their females, but however,
there should be a balance. Keeping women idle WILL LEAD TO MORE EVIL THAN keeping them occupied.
There is also a lack of resources for Muslim women to learn from, about professionalism in the Islamic point of view.
For example, how to greet and talk to men in the workplace, how to combat issues of workplace harassment/flirting, etc.
For example, how to greet and talk to men in the workplace, how to combat issues of workplace harassment/flirting, etc.
We have a long way to go as Muslims.
