Fatwa #540429 April 2002Australia
Is a married woman in parda allowed to stand behind the counter and be in contact with male customers helping her husband?
Answer
A wife should not be put through the strains, toils and duties of the
husband. She should be allowed to remain at home and see to the household
chores and the rearing of her children. In most instances, when the wife is
busy helping her husband in the shop the children are neglected.
Additionally, the wife will now come into frequent contact with non-mahram
men. Although she may be donning the hijaab, she will still be inviting
various types of fitnah upon herself.
Moreover, when there are other male assistants also working in the shop, her
movements will be restricted in the shop. She will be cooped up in the shop.
Her condition will be further exacerbated during hot climates when she will
have to remain in hijaab for long hours in the heat.
If she has to assist her husband then she may do so by doing some clerical
work within the precincts of her home.
and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best
Mufti Ebrahim D
husband. She should be allowed to remain at home and see to the household
chores and the rearing of her children. In most instances, when the wife is
busy helping her husband in the shop the children are neglected.
Additionally, the wife will now come into frequent contact with non-mahram
men. Although she may be donning the hijaab, she will still be inviting
various types of fitnah upon herself.
Moreover, when there are other male assistants also working in the shop, her
movements will be restricted in the shop. She will be cooped up in the shop.
Her condition will be further exacerbated during hot climates when she will
have to remain in hijaab for long hours in the heat.
If she has to assist her husband then she may do so by doing some clerical
work within the precincts of her home.
and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best
Mufti Ebrahim D