Is the intermingling of a Muslim woman who works as an engineer in a public company, wearing the official hijab and covering her face everywhere except at work where she uncovers it out of necessity for the job, and where there is intermingling with men and travel on long journeys, considered unlawful, despite her commitment to everything she can and her inability to leave her job and source of livelihood, and with her striving to be a caller to God, enjoining good and forbidding evil?
It is impermissible for a woman to work in a place where she mixes with non-mahram men, especially if it necessitates travel without a mahram and uncovering her face, due to the danger involved for her. Necessity is an exception to this, provided certain conditions are met, including:
1. There is no one to support her. 2. There is no non-mixed work available. 3. She does not master a job that can be practiced at home, or it is insufficient.
If these conditions are met, she is permitted to work in a mixed environment, while adhering to the following:
1. Modesty with a complete legal hijab, without uncovering the face. 2. Not using perfume when going out. 3. Not being lenient in speech with men and not speaking in a soft, alluring manner. 4. No private seclusion (khalwa) with men. 5. No fear of temptation (fitna) arising from this mixing. 6. No travel without a mahram.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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