Is it permissible for a woman to work if her husband has sworn by divorce that she not go to work, given the very difficult financial circumstances they are experiencing?

The majority of scholars hold that divorce conditioned upon an event occurs when the condition is met, whether the intention was to effect a divorce, or to threaten, or to emphasize, or to prevent. This is the prevailing opinion (al-mufta bihi). Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, however, is of the view that divorce does not occur if the husband did not intend to effect it, but rather intended to threaten, emphasize, or prevent, and in this case, an expiation for breaking an oath (kaffarat yameen) is required of him.

Accordingly, the prevailing opinion (al-mufta bihi) is that the wife's going out to work effects a divorce, and the husband may take her back if this divorce does not complete the three divorces and if it is within her 'iddah (waiting period). According to Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah's opinion, divorce does not occur by her going out, and an expiation for breaking an oath is required of the husband if his intention was to threaten and prevent.

It is not permissible for the wife to go out to work or for any other purpose without her husband's permission, unless the husband is unable to provide for her maintenance (nafaqah), in which case she may go out to earn a living.