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Women's work in Islam

عمل المرأة في الإسلام

Al-Maraghi holds women and men to be of one origin and one humanity, and that Islam gave women rights of ownership, sale, gifts and inheritance, so they should learn and work (p. 23). He cites Aisha as a teacher of Islam, and reports that Bukhari has fifty-four hadiths from her, a count the book prints but which was not checked here (p. 23). He cites Asma bint Abi Bakr (may God be pleased with her)'s role in the Hijra and women tending the wounded at Uhud (pp. 24-25). Work is allowed with modesty and without harm to family duties (p. 24). A family with means may leave the woman free of work (p. 25).

Depth

At a glance

Era
The Prophetic Era
Region
Global / Diaspora
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Women

Overview

Al-Maraghi holds that woman is man's sister in origin and humanity: Islam granted her ownership, sale, purchase, gift and inheritance, and learning and work follow necessarily 1. He points to the Mothers of the Believers and the women Companions in teaching and public service — 'A'isha as a teacher of Islam, Asma' serving the hijra, Umm Sulaym and 'A'isha carrying water to the wounded at Uhud 2 3. The book permits a woman's work so long as it is serious, modest, and harmful neither to morals nor society.

Connections

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Part of
Work in Islam

People and things also explored

Agriculture in Islam· Crafts in Islam· Forbidden livelihoods in Islam· Trade in Islam· Work in Islam· Obstructing a marriage (adl): the guardian and the husband· Fleshy growth in the wife's womb and the right to annul (afal)· The Arab woman and the international conventions

Sources

  1. Issues of Work and Wealth in Islam — Abu al-Wafa al-Maraghi , p. 23
  2. Issues of Work and Wealth in Islam — Abu al-Wafa al-Maraghi , p. 24
  3. Issues of Work and Wealth in Islam — Abu al-Wafa al-Maraghi , p. 25
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “Women's work in Islam”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/concept/womens-work-in-islam/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-22.

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Wing

People

Prophets, companions, scholars, rulers, scientists, poets, travelers: women and men who shaped the story. Related

Agriculture in Islam

Al-Maraghi presents agriculture as the oldest livelihood, after Ibn Khaldun, the simplest and closest to nature (pp. 27-28). Islam encourages it as the source of people's and animals' food and forbids farming usurped land (p. 28). Reviving dead land gives title, and a tract left unworked for three years may pass to another who works it, subject to the ruler's permission in practice (p. 29). The book warns against withholding surplus water and tells the Zubayr water dispute (pp. 29-30). Sharecropping is called muzara'a (p. 30).