A Discussion on Working Women

The religious channel Al-Majd TV hosted two Saudi university professors who discussed whether women should be allowed to work outside the home. The following are excertps:

Moderator, Sa'ud Aal 'Abd Al-Latif: The pearls have been increasingly leaving their shells, but where do they go? To the world of work. I wonder, does a woman go to work because she needs to or because society needs her? Or perhaps it is for the sake of a life of luxury? What did the working woman achieved in countries that preceded us in this area? Is it true that sexual harassment, dubious relationships, the weakening of family relationships, and divorce result from women unrestrainedly going to work? What do people who call for women to go to work unrestrainedly want? Do they want to free her, or free access to her?

Sheik 'Abdallh Al-Treiqi professor at Al-Imam University: Women, have special characteristics that may or may not appear. For example, the female matures earlier than the male.

Moderator: Allah be praised.

Sheik Al-Treiqi: Yes, the female matures earlier than the male.

Moderator: Does this fact necessitate anything?

Sheik Al-Treiqi: It means that girls reach puberty, generally, at ten, when they begin to menstruate, while boys reach puberty only at 15.

Moderator: Allah be praised.

Sheik Al-Treiqi: This is proof that the female matures before the male. Another point is that the first Islamic martyr was a woman, Sumyia Um 'Ammar.

Sheik 'Abdallah Wakil Al-Sheikh, professor ar Al-Imam University: Prior to the industrial revolution the Western woman would work at home like the Muslim woman, and like women in many other societies. But when the industrial revolution came, and the so-called workers' strike occurred, the factory owners had to bring in women to break this male strike. That is how women came from the villages to the cities,so the factory owners could deal with the male behavior.

Moderator: To sum things up, Islam has created equality between man and woman, both in tasks and in duties, other than what is required by the natural and mental differences between them. As a rule, a woman should stay at home and leave the house only in an hour of need. A woman has no need to go out to work because the wise Islamic law ruled that her expenses should be paid by her father, husband, or guardian. If a woman is forced to go to work, she is obliged to receive her guardian's permission; she must wear a veil as required by Islamic law; she must avoid mixing with men; she must avoid work forbidden by Islamic law; her work must not cause her to overlook her duties.