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Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| RELIGIOUS GUIDELINES FOR WORKING MUSLIM WOMEN |
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| faith |
| 10/21/03 at 08:10:57 |
| [slm] I got this in the email today, and decided to email to all muslim ladies in my department. I do agree with most of the advice given, but I am not agreeable on the advice on prayers to be combined, made earlier or later, at one's whims or convience. Subhanallah, 1 hour after I emailed this "guidelines" out, Allah tested me. I was told to close the door behind, whilst my boss and I were in to discuss confidential matters, and I did so. Only a few minutes later I realised that the blinds were closed, and that no one can see us in the room, that I quickly jumped up to open the blinds. Then my boss told me to open the door instead. Phew !! Anyway, here is the guidelines. RELIGIOUS GUIDELINES FOR WORKING MUSLIM WOMEN Introduction While it is generally acceptable for women in modern society to work as a means of pursuing higher income for the family and to play a role in contributing to their society, it is of utmost important for both men and women to guard themselves from indulging in activities or to be in an environment that may lead them to commit sins. Below are some guidelines that we hope would be of assistance to working women. Dress Code Muslim ladies should dress well. By all means be abreast with the latest fashions. However, please, observe the community's standard of decency. Use perfume, but be moderate, that is not too strong so as to attracting attention. As far as possible try to put on a head cover. A normal scarf or "selendang" will do. Mixing With Men. Working women, on many occasions have to meet or work side by side men. In many jobs, meeting, talking and dealing with non-muhrim men sometimes means a daily affair. Such ladies should be extremely careful and always be prepared, as many have fallen into the trap of satan. Many a happy family is destroyed because the partner has fallen in love with some one found at the working place. A few tips: 1. Never be with a man alone in a locked room. If you have to, keep the door open. Try to be in an office with many people. 2. Avoid chating, joking extensively with men. When talking or sitting with men don't be too close. 3. Avoid going to lunch, tea or dinner with non-muhrim man. If you have to, go in a group that consists of more than one women and avoid late nights. 4. Be polite. 5. Have strong iman. Shaking hands with men. Avoid shaking hands with men if possible as the prophet says that he never shook hands with women. However in an unavoidable situation, have a clean intention (niat). According to the Hanafi school, touching a non muhrim without cover to the skin does not make the ablution void. According to Maliki school, touching a non muhrim without cover to the skin does not make the ablution void as long as there is no sexually desire. The late Prof. Hamka, a leading Indonesian scholar once said, "If a women wanted to shake and kiss my hand with good intentions, I would allow it". Prayer. Most working women find it difficult to pray on time. Sometimes due to space constrains, sometimes due to time constraints. In these cases, firstly as a Muslim, at the time of prayer, effort should be made to pray on time. Create the place. If you plan sincerely, it is not difficult. After all many have done it. If you have good reasons, it is alright to pray Asar during Dhohor or Isyak during Maghrib. It is called takdeem (doing it earlier). If you have good reasons, it is also alright to pray Dhohor at Asar time or Maghrib at Isyak time. It is called tak-kheer (doing later). To pray tak-kheer for Dhohor at Asar it is important to have the intention (niat) mention at the time of Dhohor. Similarly for Maghrib and Isyak. For Dhohor, Asar and Isyak it should be four Rakaat. For Maghrib, it is three Rakaat as there are not shortened (Qasar) prayers. Shortening of prayers is usually done during travelling. Failing which, prayers should be Qadak (doing it at other time). It can be done anytime, day or night but preferable not after Subuh or Asar. However, please, don't miss your prayer. At home A married-working women needs an understanding husband for her contributing to household work is limited. With proper planning and sharing things will work out just fine. Last but not least. Get a good job. Aim high. Something that gives good returns and at the same time provides enough time for the family and allows you to practise your religion. May God the Almighty guide, protect and assist all workinc and career Muslim Women in their contributions to their family and society. Amin Syed Hassan bin Muhammad Al-Attas Imam Ba'alwi Mosque Singapore |
| 10/21/03 at 22:04:26 |
| faith |
| Re: RELIGIOUS GUIDELINES FOR WORKING MUSLIM WOMEN |
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| Nomi |
| 10/22/03 at 01:28:59 |
| [slm] [quote author=faith link=board=sis;num=1066734657;start=0#0 date=10/21/03 at 08:10:57] Shaking hands with men. Avoid shaking hands with men if possible as the prophet says that he never shook hands with women. However in an unavoidable situation, have a clean intention (niat). [/quote] Bro timbuktu, we finally are reading a scholar who somehow made it permissible!! (no disrespect intended) It reminds me of those friends of mine who when asked by me to lower their gaze tell me that they have a "clean intention" ::) (an earful from me follows this comment of theirs) Hey when'll i be allowed to play "keeklee pakeeklee" with opposite gender... with "clean Neeyah" that is ::) [i]aA taer-a-lahutee us ......... *sigh*[/i] ....... Shaking hands with non-mehrams is simply *not* allowed..... here is a quote from the [url=http://www.jannah.org/cgi-bin/madina/YaBB.pl?board=library;action=display;num=1065242614]Beautiful One Liners[/url] thread [center]"Give Satan an inch & he’ll be a ruler. "[/center] [quote] According to the Hanafi school, touching a non muhrim without cover to the skin does not make the ablution void. According to Maliki school, touching a non muhrim without cover to the skin does not make the ablution void as long as there is no sexually desire. The late Prof. Hamka, a leading Indonesian scholar once said, "If a women wanted to shake and kiss my hand with good intentions, I would allow it". [/quote] Just wanted to add that during Hajj Malikis follow Hanafi ruling in this matter, because its so crowdy during "tawwaaf" that its simply impossible no matter how hard you try to avoid a touch. And thats why ladies are recommended to do the tawwaf in the outer circle but mashaAllah many out of their zeal want to get close to the Kabah and kiss Hajr-e-aswad (specially the Indonesian sisters) [slm] Your Brother. |
| 10/22/03 at 04:52:26 |
| Nomi |
| Re: RELIGIOUS GUIDELINES FOR WORKING MUSLIM WOMEN |
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| Barr |
| 10/22/03 at 05:40:28 |
| Wa'alaikumussalam warahmatullah [quote]Bro timbuktu, we finally are reading a scholar who somehow made it permissible!! (no disrespect intended) It reminds me of those friends of mine who when asked by me to lower their gaze tell me that they have a "clean intention" (an earful from me follows this comment of theirs) [/quote] Yes, there are scholarly arguments based on Qur'an and Sunnah that does not prohibit shaking of hands with the opposite gender at certain situations. You may wish to refer to a book by Sheikh Abdul Halim Abu Shuqqah,"Tah7rirul Mar'ah - fi 'ashrir risalah" for the daleel and argument. Allahua'lam |
| 10/22/03 at 05:48:24 |
| Barr |
| Re: RELIGIOUS GUIDELINES FOR WORKING MUSLIM WOMEN |
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| Kathy |
| 10/22/03 at 08:53:05 |
| [wlm] Barr! Ya gotta give us more info than that! [quote] does not prohibit shaking of hands with the opposite gender at certain situations. [/quote] What situations? |
| Re: RELIGIOUS GUIDELINES FOR WORKING MUSLIM WOMEN |
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| jannah |
| 10/22/03 at 12:55:29 |
| [quote]And thats why ladies are recommended to do the tawwaf in the outer circle[/quote] Who recommends it? The difference between a tawaf in the outer circle and an inner circle is quite alot, it can mean twice or more! the difference in duration and struggle. If anything should be recommended it should be men in the outer circle letting women have the smaller rings to do... Unfortunately it's doubtful many women can reach the inner circles anyway cause there are BIG guys there who want to run the whole thing and knock over anyone in their way. |
| Re: RELIGIOUS GUIDELINES FOR WORKING MUSLIM WOMEN |
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| bhaloo |
| 10/22/03 at 20:12:31 |
| [slm] [quote author=Barr link=board=sis;num=1066734657;start=0#2 date=10/22/03 at 05:40:28]Yes, there are scholarly arguments based on Qur'an and Sunnah that does not prohibit shaking of hands with the opposite gender at certain situations. [/quote] ??? Huh? What is the evidence for this? The parts in bold below are the reason why I know its not permissible, and then there's also that other hadith we're all famous about being struck in the head by a rod. I'm wondering if you are getting the situation of a man greeting a woman (giving or returning salaam), as there are different opinions in regards to this and for different circumstances. From islam-qa.com Question : Is it permissible to greet woman by shaking hands if they put part of their hijab over the hand of the man who is greeting them?. Answer : Praise be to Allaah. It is not permissible for a man to touch in greeting the hand of a woman who is not his mahram, even if she covers her hand with her garment, because of the hadeeth narrated by al-Bukhaari in his Saheeh from ‘Urwah, from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her), in which she told the story of how the women gave their bay’ah (oath of allegiance) to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). She said: “No, by Allaah, his hand never touched the hand of any woman when accepting the oath of allegiance, all he said was, ‘I accept your oath of allegiance on this basis.’” And Ahmad narrated with a saheeh isnaad from Umaymah bint Raqeeqah that she said: “I came to the Messenger of Allaah (S) with other women to give the oath of allegiance to him, and he accepted our pledge to abide by what is in the Qur’aan… We said: ‘O Messenger of Allaah, will you not shake hands with us?’ He said, ‘I do not shake hands with women. Rather what I say to a hundred woman is what I would say to one woman.’” And we have in the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) the best example. The One Who sent him said (interpretation of the meaning): “Indeed in the Messenger of Allaah (Muhammad) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the Meeting with) Allaah and the Last Day, and remembers Allaah much” [al-Ahzaab 33:21] And Allaah is the source of strength. Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah li’l-Buhooth al-‘Ilmiyyah wa’l-Ifta’, 17/30 |
| 10/23/03 at 09:32:02 |
| bhaloo |
| Re: RELIGIOUS GUIDELINES FOR WORKING MUSLIM WOMEN |
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| Nomi |
| 10/23/03 at 01:36:26 |
| [slm] [quote author=jannah link=board=sis;num=1066734657;start=0#4 date=10/22/03 at 12:55:29] Who recommends it? The difference between a tawaf in the outer circle and an inner circle is quite alot, it can mean twice or more! the difference in duration and struggle. If anything should be recommended it should be men in the outer circle letting women have the smaller rings to do... Unfortunately it's doubtful many women can reach the inner circles anyway cause there are BIG guys there who want to run the whole thing and knock over anyone in their way. [/quote] You are right there, if it were upto me then i would have kept men in the outer circle but i've seen those BIG guys in action and they sure knock one over and since the scholar who was recommending us this can't keep those BIG guys in the outer circle (specially the Sudanis) thats why he recommended it! And i've seen ladies getting suffocated while trying to get in the "hateem" or trying to kiss "hajr-a-aswad", even helped an Indonesian couple kiss the "hajr-a-aswad" by blocking the way of those BIG guys :P. Since everyone tries to get closer to Kabah then isn't it logical to ask the poor ladies to take the pain of doing the tawaf in the outer circle? Probly they'll be rewarded more inshaAllah. Those big guys dont listen, i also tried talking to them in broken Arabic but all in vain hence the recommendation! [slm] Asim Zafar. PS: By outer circle i dint mean the outer outer circle, but the "logical" outer circle where its not that crowdy. PS2: In 2001, i saw a hijabi+jilbabi sister running as fast as she could to do the "tawaf", if she is reading this.... "i saw what you did last time i was there", dont do it again as its not the right way, walking is :) |
| Re: RELIGIOUS GUIDELINES FOR WORKING MUSLIM WOMEN |
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| Fozia |
| 10/23/03 at 10:41:26 |
| [slm] I managed to do the tawaf right up beside the Kaa'ba and pray in the Hateem without pushing or shoving (but then I'm really small). Never got to kiss the Hajre Aswat though :( (some people just stick their heads in and the guards have to practically prize them off), maybe next time Inshallah. I'd be rather upset if someone told me to do the tawaf on the outer circle, so would my mahram come to think of it!!! Wassalaam |
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