Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
The husband is obliged to spend on his family, pay the rent,
cover food expenses and so on, and the wife is not obliged to provide any of
that, even if she is working or is wealthy.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Let the rich man spend according to his means”
[al-Talaaq 65:7].
And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said: “Their rights over you are that you should provide for them and
clothe them in a reasonable manner.” Narrated by Muslim (1218). And he
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to Hind the wife of Abu
Sufyaan: “Take [i.e., from his wealth] what is sufficient for you and your
child on a reasonable basis.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (5364).
Secondly:
The basic principle is that women should stay at home and not
go out except for necessary purposes. Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):
“And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves
like that of the times of ignorance”
[al-Ahzaab 33:33].
Although this is addressed to the wives of the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), the believing women are to
follow them in that. It is addressed to the wives of the Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) as an honour to them due to their
standing with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him), and because they are an example for the believing women.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said: “Woman is ‘awrah and when she goes out, the Shaytaan gets his hopes
up. She is never closer to Allaah than when she is in the innermost part of
her house,” Narrated by Ibn Hibbaan and Ibn Khuzaymah; classed as saheeh by
al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 2688.
And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said regarding women’s prayer in the mosque: “Their houses are better
for them.” Narrated by Abu Dawood (567) and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani
in Saheeh Abi Dawood.
Thirdly:
It is haraam for a woman to work in a place where she mixes
with men, because of the evils and problems that result from that mixing for
both men and women. She may work outside the home in a permissible job in
which there is no mixing with men, subject to the following conditions:
-
That she needs to work
-
That the work is suited to
women’s nature and suited to their femininity and physical constitution,
such as working in medicine, nursing, teaching, sewing and so on.
-
That the work is in a place
that is only for women, and there is no mixing with non-mahram men
-
That the woman adhere to proper
shar’i hijab at work
-
That her work should not lead
to her travelling without a mahram
-
That her going out to work does
not involve her committing any haraam action, such as being alone with the
driver, or wearing perfume where non-mahram men may smell it
-
That it does not lead to her
neglecting a more important duty such as taking care of her house and
looking after her husband and children.
Shaykh Muhammad al-Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have
mercy on him) said: The field of work for women is that a woman should work
in areas that women specialize in, such as teaching girls, whether it is an
administrative or teaching position, or she may work in her home, sewing
clothes for women and the like. As for working in fields in which men
specialize, it is not permissible for her to work where she will be required
to mix with men, as this is a great fitnah which must be avoided. It must be
noted that it is proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) said: “I am not leaving behind after me any fitnah that is more
harmful to men than women; the fitnah of the Children of Israel had to do
with women.” A man must make his family avoid all areas and causes of fitnah
in all circumstances. End quote from Fataawa al-Mar’ah al-Muslimah
(2/981).
Fourthly:
There is nothing wrong with you working as a babysitter. If
it is in your house there is no problem; if it is in the house of the family
you are working for, it is essential that you avoid being alone with the
father of the child and any other non-mahram men, and beware of other things
that are haraam, such as looking, shaking hands, speaking to men
unnecessarily.
You are not obliged to work even though it is permissible, so
long as your husband did not stipulate that in the marriage contract. If you
are afraid that your husband will divorce you, then you have the choice
between working and getting divorced, and in this case it is better for you
to look for permissible work, and you will find it in sha Allaah, for the
bitterness of having to work may be less than the bitterness of divorce.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He
will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty).
3. And He will provide him from (sources) he never could
imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allaah, then He will suffice him.
Verily, Allaah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allaah has set a measure
for all things”
[al-Talaaq 65:2-3]
We ask Allaah to set your affairs straight and to bring you
together in obedience to Him.
And Allaah knows best.
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