If a woman works in her house without intendingto seek reward for her
work with Allaah, will she be rewarded for her work or not?.
Praise be to Allaah.
A woman's work in the home is important work in which she helps to
spread love and mercy inher home, and she plays a major role in
raising her children and helps her husband in his work,da'wah and
pursuit of knowledge.
In this regard, this work is like all other kinds of work: a woman
will not be rewarded for it unless her intention in doing it is
sincerely for the sake of Allaah alone.
There follow some texts which support this view,as well as some of the
comments of the scholars.
1 – al-Bukhaari (may Allaah have mercy on him) included in Kitaab
al-Eemaan (the Book of Faith) a chapter in whichhe listed shar'i
duties, which included seeking reward for doing them.
Al-Bukhaari (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
"Chapter: what was narrated about actions being but by intentions, and
every person will have but that which he intended. This includes
faith, wudoo', prayer, zakaah, Hajj, fasting and other rulings. Allaah
says(interpretation of the meaning): "Each one does according to
Shakilatihi (i.e. his way or his religion or his intentions)"
[al-Isra' 17:84]. A man may seek the reward of charity forhis spending
on his family. And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said: "But jihad and good intentions."
Saheeh al-Bukhaari (1/29), Kitaab al-Eemaan.
Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
The words "Chapter: what has been narrated…" mean: a chapter which
explains what has been narrated as evidence that shar'i actions are
judged according to intention.
Fath al-Baari (1/135, 136)
2 – It was narrated that Abu Mas'ood al-Badri (may Allaah be pleased
with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said: "If a Muslim spends on his family, seeking reward for that
with Allaah, thenit will an act of charity on his part." Narrated
byal-Bukhaari (55), Muslim (1002).
Spending on his wife and children is a man's shar'i duty, but he will
not be rewarded for it unless he seeks reward thereby.
Al-Qurtubi said:
The apparent meaning isthat the reward for spending on them can only
be attained by intending to draw closerto Allaah, whether it is
obligatory or permissible, and this implies that whoever does not
intend to draw closer to Allaah will not be rewarded, but he has
discharged his duty in the case of obligatory spending.
Fath al-Baari (1/136)
Ibn Hajar said:
It may be understood from this that the reward cannot be attained by
doing the deed unless it is also accompanied by the intention.
Al-Tabari said: spending on one's family is obligatory, and he will be
rewarded for what he gives according to hisintention. There is no
contradiction between its being obligatory and its being called
charity, rather it is better than voluntary charity.
Fath al-Baari (9/498)
Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
Seeking reward thereby means seeking the Countenance of Allaah
thereby. That does not include whatever he spends absent-mindedly
(i.e., heedless of the intention and without intending to seek reward
thereby). Rather this refers to the one who seeks reward. The way to
seek reward is to spend it with the intention of fulfilling theduty of
spending and kind treatment that has been enjoined upon him.
Sharh Muslim (7/88, 89).
3 – It was narrated from Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqaas (may Allaah be pleased
with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) said: "You will never spend anything, seeking thereby the
Countenance of Allaah, but you will be rewarded for it, even what you
put in your wife's mouth." Narrated by al-Bukhaari (56) and Muslim
(1628).
Ibn al-Haaj al-Maaliki (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
He should not neglect to give his wife a morsel or two, because the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "even a
morsel that he puts in his wife's mouth." He will earn reward even
though there is some pleasure for him in putting a morsel in his
wife's mouth, but he should seek reward in allof that, i.e., in
bringing the food and in giving it to her.
Al-Madkhal (1/224).
Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
You will never spend anything, seeking thereby the reward of Allaah,
but you will be rewarded for it. The attainment of reward is dependent
upon that, i.e., on seeking the Countenance of Allaah. This is what
matters.
Fath al-Baari (5/367).
Conclusion:
A woman will be rewarded for her work in the house if she seeks reward
with Allaah for that, and is sincere in her intention.
And Allaah knows best.
'' Our Lord ! grant us good in this world and good in the hereafter and save us from the torment of the Fire '' [Ameen]
-
{in Arab} :->
Rabbanaa aatinaa fid-dunyaa hasanatan wafil aakhirati hasanatan waqinaa 'athaaban-naar/-
(Surah Al-Baqarah ,verse 201)
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