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Is a father entitled to prevent his daughter from working, especially if she is not in need of it, and is this consistent with understanding the psychological needs of women, addressing the issue of spinsterhood, in addition to preparing women to face emergency circumstances after losing the breadwinner?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

It is permissible for a woman to work in a profession that suits her nature and physical constitution, provided that there is no fitna (temptation/strife), she adheres to Sharia rulings, and she has her husband's permission. Examples include teaching girls or working in women-only hospitals. Her work may be commendable or obligatory depending on the need. However, if there is no genuine need for her to work, her staying at home is better, as it is the original and preferred role, and her work at home is a great task that requires numerous specializations in knowledge, thought, management, and economics. The United Nations estimates the value of a woman's domestic work to be equivalent to half the national income of any country. Furthermore, a woman's staying at home preserves her modesty and chastity, reduces her exposure to harassment and molestation, has a significant impact on the righteousness of her offspring, and enables her to maintain her true femininity, characterized by tenderness and compassion. All of this is in compliance with Allah Almighty's command: "And abide in your houses and do not display yourselves as [was] the display of the former times of ignorance."

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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