The Messenger of Allah (S) has stated...

The Messenger of Allah (S) has stated: قال رسول الله (ص): «العبادةُ سَبْعُونَ جزءً أفضلها طَلَبُ الحَلال.» “Worship has seventy elements; the noblest of which is endeavoring to gain legitimate income.”[^1] The noble Musa ibn Ja‘far (‘a) has declared: بشير الدهان، قال سمعت ابالحسن موسى (ع) يقول: «انّ الله عزّوجلّ يُبغِض الْعَبد النّوام الْفارغ.» “Surely Allah, the Honored, the Glorified, disfavors languid and idle servants.”[^2] According to Islam, working is not a right but a duty and men and women are no different in this regard.

Women must also perform their social duties and they are free in choosing their occupation. However, taking heed of the special physical and spiritual genesis of women, not all lines of work are consistent with their eminence or abilities and other members of the society. Women are exquisite, sensitive, and beautiful beings. Because of this exquisiteness and beauty, they have much allure and influence with men.

Thus, they must endeavor to choose professions that can keep their spiritual and physical beauty impeccable for their husbands. Thus working in onerous and physically taxing jobs is not advisable for women; these include professions such as driving heavy vehicles, overnight jobs, farming, animal husbandry, and working in mines, ironworks, cement and automobile factories, etc.

These occupations are usually beyond the normal physical capacities of women and endanger their beauty, exquisiteness, and allure, which is neither to the benefit of women nor to that of their spouses. Consequently, Islam advises that men not allow women to perform laborious work.

Amir al-Mu’minin[^3] said to his son Imam Hassan (‘a): في رسالة أميرالمؤمنين إلى الحسن (ع) قال: «لا تملك المرأة من الأمر ما يجاوز نفسها؛ فإنّ ذلك أنعم بحالها، و أرخى لبالها، و أدوم لجمالها؛ فإنّ المرأة ريحانة و ليست بقهرمانة.» “Do not tolerate that women do things beyond their abilities because this is more suitable for their status, it calms their hearts, and preserves their beauty; surely women are like fragrant flowers and not warriors.”[^4] Another important issue is that the exquisiteness, beauty, and allure of women are as natural as the inability of most men in resisting sexual temptation.

Thus, it is in the interests of women and the society in general that they choose professions with less contact with non-kindred men, especially youths and unmarried men, in order to avoid probable harm to their faith and reputation and aid the health and virtue of the society.

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