To Muslim women...

Assalamu Alaikum!

"Brother Peacemaker, I am glad you had such a good role model of a dad.  May Allah, SWT, increase your family and status so that you can guide your brothers-in-Islaam who don't have the understanding and dignity that you do."

Jazak Allah Khair sister herjihad. May Allah bless us all here and hereafter.

Peace

Bismillah,

"due to her more emotional nature"

Brother Peacemaker, I am glad you had such a good role model of a dad.  May Allah, SWT, increase your family and status so that you can guide your brothers-in-Islaam who don't have the understanding and dignity that you do.

Assalamu Alaikum Sister Khadija:

May I answer your question?

Maintenance and protection is the one obligation in faith that Allah(SWT) has given men over women. It is not a choice but their duty. Quiwama (maintenance and protection) is your right as a woman, unless there is some reason such as sickness that prevents your husband from working.

If the woman does work outside the home, any money that she makes, along with any inheritance or money that she brought to the marriage is hers and her husband has no right to it. She is not obligated Islamically to share this money, although she may choose to do so.

This is an excerpt from The Status of Woman in Islam  by Dr. Jamal Badawi:

"Islam decreed a right of which woman was deprived both before Islam and after it (even as late as this century), the right of independent ownership. According to Islamic Law, woman's right to her money, real estate, or other properties is fully acknowledged. This right undergoes no change whether she is single or married. She retains her full rights to buy, sell, mortgage or lease any or all her properties. It is nowhere suggested in the Law that a woman is a minor simply because she is a female. It is also noteworthy that such right applies to her properties before marriage as well as to whatever she acquires thereafter.

With regard to the woman's right to seek employment it should be stated first that Islam regards her role in society as a mother and a wife as the most sacred and essential one. Neither maids nor baby-sitters can possibly take the mother's place as the educator of an upright, complex free, and carefully-reared children. Such a noble and vital role, which largely shapes the future of nations, cannot be regarded as "idleness".

However, there is no decree in Islam which forbids woman from seeking employment whenever there is a necessity for it, especially in positions which fit her nature and in which society needs her most. Examples of these professions are nursing, teaching (especially for children), and medicine. Moreover, there is no restriction on benefiting from woman's exceptional talent in any field. Even for the position of a judge, where there may be a tendency to doubt the woman's fitness for the post due to her more emotional nature, we find early Muslim scholars such as Abu-Hanifa and Al-Tabary holding there is nothing wrong with it. In addition, Islam restored to woman the right of inheritance, after she herself was an object of inheritance in some cultures. Her share is completely hers and no one can make any claim on it, including her father and her husband.

"Unto men (of the family) belongs a share of that which Parents and near kindred leave, and unto women a share of that which parents and near kindred leave, whether it be a little or much - a determinate share." ((Qur'an 4:7).

Her share in most cases is one-half the man's share, with no implication that she is worth half a man! It would seem grossly inconsistent after the overwhelming evidence of woman's equitable treatment in Islam, which was discussed in the preceding pages, to make such an inference. This variation in inheritance rights is only consistent with the variations in financial responsibilities of man and woman according to the Islamic Law. Man in Islam is fully responsible for the maintenance of his wife, his children, and in some cases of his needy relatives, especially the females. This responsibility is neither waived nor reduced because of his wife's wealth or because of her access to any personal income gained from work, rent, profit, or any other legal means.

Woman, on the other hand, is far more secure financially and is far less burdened with any claims on her possessions. Her possessions before marriage do not transfer to her husband and she even keeps her maiden name. She has no obligation to spend on her family out of such properties or out of her income after marriage. She is entitled to the "Mahr" which she takes from her husband at the time of marriage. If she is divorced, she may get an alimony from her ex-husband.

An examination of the inheritance law within the overall framework of the Islamic Law reveals not only justice but also an abundance of compassion for woman."

Assalamu Alaikum!

"This, however, seems to address women who are supported financially by their husbands.  What about the women who support themselves or even the whole family, or who just contribute financially by working part-time? 

 What do you think?"

Good point, sister herjihad. Well, it is not the duty of women to work in order to feed themselves or even the whole family. But, if they do, following islamic principles, fulfilling their primary responsibilities as 'women in Islam', insha Allah they would be rewarded multi fold by Allah ( SWT ).  

Anything that involves going extra miles in the matters of faith and responsibilities assigned to Muslims by Allah (SWT ) will bring tremendous rewards insha Allah. Only on the day of judgement would we able to see, in reality, the enormous generosities of Allah ( SWT ).

Hope this helps.

Peace