Womens Work, - Dought & clear, - * He owns an café in which men and women mix

Share

A man owns a high-quality café which has a mixed clientele of men and women. He feels uneasy because of this mixing and fears that the income from this café may come under the heading of things which are forbidden or are doubtful and therefore disallowed in sharee’ah, even though he has told his employees not to sell anything that is forbidden in sharee’ah, such as cigarettes, and he has forbidden his customers to do anything that goes against Islamic etiquette. We would like you to please shed some light on this issue by quoting some verses of Qur’aan and ahaadeeth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), so that we may find some peace of mind and avoid falling into sin, and we may meet our Lord when He is pleased with us. We hope that the answer will be detailed.
Praise be to Allaah.
The owner of this café has done well by refusing to sell forbidden substances in his café, such as refusing to sell cigarettes and refusing to allow people to do things that go against Islamic etiquette. May Allaah reward him with good.
But it remains for him to forbid mixing, because of the evil and temptation that it involves. The Qur’aan and Sunnah indicate that mixing is haraam. For example:
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And when you ask (his wives) for anything you want, ask them from behind a screen, that is purer for your hearts and for their hearts”
[al-Ahzaab 33:53]
Ibn Katheer (may Allaah have mercy on him) said, commenting on this verse: i.e., just as it is forbidden for you to enter upon them, it is also forbidden for you to look at them at all; even if one of you has a need to ask them for anything, he should not look at them or ask of them except from behind a screen.
Al-Qurtubi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: This verse indicates that Allaah has given permission to ask of them from behind a screen in the case of necessity, or when consulting them about some matter. This meaning includes all women, because the basic principle of sharee’ah is that the whole of a woman is ‘awrah.
And Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women. If you keep your duty (to Allaah), then be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy, or evil desire for adultery) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honourable manner”
[al-Ahzaab 33:32]
If there is this warning against being soft of speech lest the one in whose heart is a disease be moved with desire, then what about men sitting with women who are clothed yet naked, who go astray and lead others astray, chatting and laughing together, and looking at one another? What fitnah can be greater than that? What heart can remain free of sickness when this is the case?
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) took care to prevent men mixing with women even in the dearest spots on earth to Allaah, namely the mosques, when he separated the rows of men and women, and he stayed for a while after saying the salaam so that the women could depart, and he designated a door of the mosque specifically for women. The evidence for that is as flows:
1 – It was narrated that Umm Salamah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: When the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) had said the salaam, the women would get up and leave when they had said the salaam, and he would stay for a while before getting up to leave. Ibn Shihaab said: I think – and Allaah knows best – that he stayed a while so that the women could disperse before the men got up to leave. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, no. 793.
2 – It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Why don’t we leave this door for the women?” Naafi’ said: Ibn ‘Umar never entered through that door until he died. Narrated by Abu Dawood, 462; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani inSaheeh Abi Dawood.
3 – It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The best rows for men are the first ones and the worst are the last, and the best rows for women are the last ones and the worst are the first.” Narrated by Muslim, 664.
This is among the greatest evidence that Islam forbids mixing. The further away the men are from the women’s rows the better, and the further away the women are from the men’s rows the better.
If these precautions are to be taken in the mosque which is a pure place of worship, then taking them in other places is undoubtedly more important.
4 – It was narrated from Abu Usayd al-Ansaari that he heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say, when he was outside the mosque and the men were mixing with the women in the road. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to the women: “Move aside, for you have no right to walk in the middle of the road; you should walk at the sides of the road.” Then a woman would walk so close to the walls that her garment would catch on the wall because she walked so close to it.” Narrated by Abu Dawood, 5272; classed as hasan by al-Albaani inSaheeh Abi Dawood.
For more details on the dangers of mixing, please see the answer to question no. 1200.
Since mixing is haraam, the owner of this café is committing sin by allowing it and refraining from denouncing it, and by helping these people to commit sin by providing a place for them where they can disobey Allaah.
What he has to do is to fear Allaah and not help to spread evil and corruption among the believers. He should be keen to make his food good (i.e., from halaal sources), for “every body that is nourished on haraam, the Fire is more befitting for it,” as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said. Narrated by al-Tabaraani and Abu Na’eem from Abu Bakr; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani inSaheeh al-Jaami’, no. 4519.
Another version was narrated from Ka’b ibn ‘Ajrah: “No flesh grows that is nourished by haraam but the Fire is more befitting for it.”
If he can prevent mixing, then this is what he must do, or else he can restrict the café to men only. Otherwise he should look for other, permissible work. Whoever gives up a thing for the sake of Allaah, Allaah will compensate him with something better than it.
“And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty).
3. And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine”
[al-Talaaq 65:2-3]
And Allaah knows best.

Share

Womens Work, - Dought & clear, - * Ruling on the salary of one who works in a mixed workplace

Share

It is well known that for a woman to work in companies where she will mix with non-mahram men is not permissible. What is the ruling on this woman's wealth: is it halaal or haraam? What is the ruling on accepting a gift from someone who works in such a workplace?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
It is haraam for a woman to work in a mixed workplace, because of the evils and bad consequences that result from that. This has been discussed in the answers to questions no. 50398and 1200.
Secondly:
It is essential to differentiate between doing haraam work or working in a haraam job, and committing haraam actions whilst doing one’s job.
The first case includes working in riba-based banks, or dealing in alcohol, drugs and lottery tickets, and other haraam things. In this case, the money that comes from that job is haraam and he has to get rid of it by spending it on various charitable causes, as has been explained in the answer to question 78289.
The second case includes doing permissible work, in which case his wages or salary from this job are permissible and there is nothing wrong with it, but he is sinning if he falls into sins that may accompany that job, such as mixing, smoking and so on. But that does not make the money he earns haraam.
To sum up:
The money that this woman earns is not haraam just because her job involves mixing, unless the work of the company itself is haraam, such as if it is a company that sells tobacco or a riba-based bank and so on.
Hence there is nothing wrong with accepting an invitation from someone who works in such a company or accepting gifts from them or benefiting from their money, but it is essential to advise her about the issue of free mixing and tell her to try to avoid it, if that is possible, or else look for another place to work where there will be none of this free mixing.
Please note that if a person’s earnings are dubious or are a mixture of halaal and haraam, there is nothing wrong with eating his food or accepting gifts from him, as the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to eat the food of the Jews and accept gifts from them.
And Allah knows best.

Share

For children, - Look at yourself before finding fault with others

Share

A man feared his wife was not hearing well as she used to and he thought she might need a hearing aid. Not quite sure how to approach her, he called his family doctor to discuss the problem. The doctor told him there is a simple, informal test; which he could perform and give them a better idea about her hearing loss.
"Here's what you do," said the doctor, "stand about 40 feet away from her and in a normal conversational speaking tone, see if she hears you. If not, go to 30 feet, then 20 feet and so on until you get a response."
That evening, when his wife was in the kitchen, cooking dinner, he was in the drawing room, standing about 40 feet away from her.
"Honey, what's for dinner?" He asked in a normal tone. No response! So he moved closer to the kitchen, about 30 feet from his wife and repeated "Honey, what's for dinner?" Still there was no response.
Next, he moved into the dining room where he was placed about 20 feet from his wife and asked the same question. Still further, he didn't get his awaited response. He now walked up to the kitchen door which was another 10 feet away and asked "Honey, what's for dinner?" Again no response! So he walks up and whispers behind her "Honey, what's for dinner?"
Darling, for the fifth time I have said, "Chicken". "Do you have some hearing problem?"
Sometimes, the problem may not be with the other person as we always think; it could be within us. Let's look within ourselves before we find fault with others.
Do you judge others? Is it easy for you to find fault with those around you? Then beware: Your spiritual life is in danger.
Hadith - Bukhari's Book of Manners #329
Ibn Abbas said, "If you wish to mention the faults of your friend, mention your own faults first."
Kabir Das in one of his Hindi Doha says,
Bura Jo Dekhan Main Chala, Bura Naa Milya Koye
Jo Munn Khoja Apnaa, To Mujhse Bura Naa Koye
Translation
I searched for the crooked, met not a single one
When searched myself, "I" found the crooked one
Kabir Das says that instead of finding fault and maligning others, dive deep into your own-self. Amazingly, an honest introspection will reveal that all fault lies with "us" and "my" own perceptions and attitudes. If there is any evil or crookedness, it is in "me". Correcting this and opting for a loving and compassionate attitude will change one's perceptions and the world will appear wonderful all over again. Dedicate so much time to the improvement of your true self and your perception, that you have no time to criticize others.

Share

Womens Work, - Dought & clear, - * Woman working in theperfume business

Share

What is the ruling on a woman selling perfumes in trade fairs and shopping centres to which men and women go?
And selling perfumes and bakhoor (incense) to men and women, and burning bakhoor in the store constantly so as to attract customers, when it is possible that some of the fragrance may get onto her, such as the bakhoor and perfumes that she is offering for sale?.
Praise be to Allaah.
There is nothing wrong with a woman working in buying and selling, so long as she adheres to proper Islamic etiquette in her dress, speech and dealings.
In the early days of Islam, women used to buy and sell in a modest and reserved manner, and none of the scholars objected to that.
InFataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah(17/13), it says:
It is permissible for her (a woman) to go to the marketplace to buy and sell, if she needs to do so, and if she covers her entire body in clothes that do not show her shape, and she does not mix freely with men. But if she does not need to engage in that buying and selling, then it is better for her not to do that. End quote.
But if a woman’s engaging in trade will lead to her uncovering that which Allah has forbidden her to uncover, such as her face, or to her travelling without a mahram, or to her mixing with non-mahram men in a manner that it is feared will lead to fitnah, then it is not permissible for her to do that; rather she should not do it. End quote.
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 13/16
For a woman to work in a perfume shop, selling to men, exposes her to fitnah and may encourage foolish men to approach her.
There is nothing wrong with a woman selling perfume and bakhoor so long as she is careful not to let any of the fragrance get onto her, because of the warning against women wearing perfume in front of non-mahram men. See the answer to question no. 102329.
And it is not permissible for her to burn bakhoor in her shop to attract customers, because the fragrance of the bakhoor will undoubtedly get onto her, and the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Any woman who has got the fragrance of bakhoor on her should not attend ‘Isha’ prayer with us.”
Narrated by Muslim, 444.
If the woman who is going to the mosque is forbidden to use perfume and bakhoor, then how about the one who is sitting in the marketplace to buy and sell, where men will inevitably smell the fragrance of bakhoor from her?
So it is better for that woman, if she needs to work, to limit it to selling to women only, so that she will not mix with men.
And Allah knows best.

Share