Is It Permissible for a Woman to Be a Pilot?

Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch

Question

Is it halal for a woman to become a pilot, considering potential seclusion in the cockpit, alcohol being served on board, and challenges with praying Salah during flights?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

Islamic Social Framework

In general, the social framework in which the rulings of Islam fit well is for women to have a more behind-the-scenes role in society and for men to be more in the public spheres of society.

The woman traditionally cared for the children and the home, while the man sought provision and took care of the laborious tasks of the outside world. Neither was better than the other, and each had a specific role that complimented the other’s.

With the changing times and sometimes due to necessity, women are taking on more public roles. That being said, it is important to understand that the Islamic framework is established by the Creator of the Heavens and Earth to ensure we achieve the best of this life and the Next.

The Honor of the Family

The narrative of our time has been distorted to perceive the housewife or the stay-at-home mom as deficient. However, the traditional view was that the family unit and the home were the center of a person’s life and that going out to work was necessary to keep the family running.

In this view, the men’s role is a disadvantage, although it be a necessary sacrifice. Today, the center of life is outside of the home, and because of this, the woman is seen to be missing out on life, if she chooses to stay home caring for her family.

Women in the Workplace

Due to the dichotomy between earlier traditions and ideals and modern perspectives and necessities, women sometimes experience difficulty following the dictates of Islamic law whilst engaging in public areas of life.

Amongst these difficulties is selecting an occupation that does not put a woman in a situation where she may disobey Allah Most High. In such cases, the Sacred law seeks to facilitate when necessity conflicts with a specific legal ruling. However, if a woman has voluntarily, not out of necessity, chosen to take on a more public role, it proves more cautious for her to turn down an occupation that would put her in such a situation.

Being a Pilot

Being a pilot demands that one travels away from home, sometimes for long periods. In general, there are restrictions placed by the Sacred law on women’s travel without a non-marriageable relative (mahram) or spouse accompanying. This ruling is not meant to limit the woman but to ensure her safety.

As a pilot, it is unlikely that a woman would be able to fulfil this ruling.

Some scholars consider it permissible for a woman to travel, if there are other guarantors of her safety, such as travelling in a group with trusted people.

Again, this dispensation should only be taken in case of necessity; if a woman, has the choice to avoid such a situation, it would be best and more cautious.

Other Issues

The issues you mentioned in your question, such as seclusion in the cockpit, the airline serving alcohol, and the challenges of praying while in the plane are also examples of the difficulties of such an occupation.

Advice

If you have an option of selecting a more appropriate occupation that allows you to fulfill the rulings of Islam and if you are married and/or have children, would allow you to be home more – that is the best.

Working from home is a blessing that came forth from the tribulation of Covid. It allowed many people to spend more time at home while working remotely.

Our mother, Sayyida Khadija was a businesswoman as she brokered the buying and selling of merchandise in 7th century Arabia. She was reported to have been very wealthy. But note, that she was able to do business in a way that did not necessitate her to engage in the public spheres of society. This allowed her to raise her children and to support her husband, the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) in his mission.

Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he went on to study at Darul Uloom Seminary in New York and completed his studies in Darul Mustafa in Tarim, Yemen. There he completed the memorization of the Qur’an and his study of the Islamic Sciences. Throughout his years of study he was blessed to learn from many great scholars: al-Habib Umar bin Hafiz, al-Habib Kazhim al-Saqqaf, al-Shaykh Umar bin Husayn al-Khatib, and others. Upon returning, he joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.