Can a Woman Work Without Her Husband’s Permission?


Shafi'i Fiqh

Answered by Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Abu Bakr Badhib

Question

Is it permissible for a woman to go to work without her husband’s permission?

Answer

In the name of Allah, and all praise is due to Allah, and blessings and peace be upon our master Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, his Family, his Companions, and those who follow him.

A woman is required to obey her husband in all matters that do not involve disobedience to Allah. Allah (Most High) says:

“Men are the caretakers of women, as men have been provisioned by Allah over women and tasked with supporting them financially.” [Quran, 4:34]

Scholars have elaborated on the duties and rights of both the husband and wife in books of Islamic jurisprudence and personal law. One of these rights is that a woman should not leave the house without her husband’s permission.

Conditions for Working

If a woman seeks to go to work with her husband’s consent, and they have mutually agreed upon it, then it is permissible as long as the work complies with Islamic guidelines and does not harm the marriage, which is the foundation of their relationship.

However, if a woman goes to work without her husband’s consent, it is considered disobedience and is referred to in Islamic jurisprudence as nushuz (rebelliousness). In this case, she would not be entitled to her husband’s financial support (nafaqa). The Quran mentions nushuz in the same verse cited above, where Allah says:

“And if you sense ill-conduct (nushuz) from your women, advise them (first)” [Quran, 4:34]

It is recommended that the husband remind her of her duties by referring to the teachings of Allah and His Messenger. He may also remind her of the saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him): “Any woman who dies while her husband is pleased with her will enter Paradise” [Tirmidhi; Abu Dawud; Ibn Majah]

Resolving Disputes

If the woman had a prior agreement with her husband at the time of marriage allowing her to work, and the husband later refuses, the issue should be resolved either through mutual understanding or by referring the matter to arbitrators or the court.

We ask Allah to bring harmony between hearts, help us fulfill our obligations, and give rights to those who deserve them.

Allah is the source of success and guidance to the straight path.

[Shaykh] Dr. Muhammad Abu Bakr Badhib

Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Abu Bakr Badhib is a prominent Islamic scholar from Yemen. He was born in Shibam, Hadhramaut, in 1976. He received his degree in Shari‘a from Al-Ahqaf University, a master’s degree from the Islamic University of Beirut, and a PhD in Usul al-Din from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).

He studied under great scholars such as Shaykh al-Habib Ahmad Mashhur al-Haddad, Shaykh Fadl Ba‘ fadl, Habib Salim al-Shatiri, Habib Ali Mashhur bin Hafeez, and others. He has served as the Director of Publications at Dar al-Fiqh, the former Deputy Director of Cultural Relations at Al-Ahqaf University, a former Assistant for Employee Affairs at Atiyah Iron Company, a researcher at the Sunna Center affiliated with the Dallah al-Baraka Foundation, and a researcher at Al-Furqan Foundation’s Makka al-Mukarrama and Madina al-Munawwara Encyclopedia branch.

Currently, he is a researcher at Al-Furqan Foundation’s Makka al-Mukarrama and Madina al-Munawwara Encyclopedia branch, teaches traditionally through the Ijaza system at Dar al-Fuqaha in Turkey, supervises the Arabic department at Nur al-Huda International Institute (SeekersGuidance), and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Manuscript House in Istanbul.

His works include “The Efforts of Hadhramaut Jurists in Serving the Shafi‘i School,” “Contributions of Hadhramaut Scholars in Spreading Islam and its Sciences in India,” “Hada’iq al-Na‘im in Shafi‘i Fiqh,” in addition to verifying several books in Fiqh, history, the art of biographies, and Asanid (chains of narration).