05-28-2003, 09:38 PM
Salaam alikom
Indeed seeking knowledge is important and the prophet(pbuh) said:“seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every muslim” ,narrated by Ibn Maajah. However we must notice that knowledge is of different categories ,first there is the knowledge that is enough to sustain the religious beliefs and the obligatory practices ie: tawheed ,salah ,etc this is obligatory upon every muslim to seek. Secondly there is advanced religious knowledge ie: scholars knowledge. Thirdly there is the scientific knowledge like medicine,technology,engineering,etc however for this category and the second one it’s not an obligation on every muslim but a few can meet the demand of those categories and there is no burden then on the muslim community as long as the demand of the muslims is met.
No doubt a muslim women must not neglect seeking knowledge but at the same time she must remember to fulfill her obligation towards her husband and family ,thus a women should make a balance between the two duties. I must stress on the point that a women does not have to seek knowledge so as to get a job in her future but seeking knowledge should be a mean for her to broaden her mind ,to improve her way of thinking and practicing things in life. And one of the greatest proofs and best of examples is Ayisha(RA) she used to teach the Sahabbah from behind the hijab the rules of the Islamic religion. Furthermore a women’s place is inside her house for she is a mistress in her house , I wonder why when a non-believing women stays at her house and fulfills her duty towards her family and runs her house she is an ideal mother who sacrificed her job ,chances ,etc but when a muslim women does the same duties which her religion commanded her to do she is oppressed she needs to be liberated and all the nonsense some keep on saying??!!!. Moreover a muslim women can work if she needs or if the muslim community requires it from her ,for example today we need female muslim doctors ,teachers ,nurses , daa’yahs . However if a women is going to work then it must be within the limits and boundaries of what islam allowed ,she should not go out Mutabarrijah but she should observe correct Hijab ,she should not mix with men. But if a women can work it does not mean she can go into fields that are in general for men and compete with them this is not acceptable at all, ie: working in the fighting ranks of the army.
In the light of the above I conclude a muslim women must seek knowledge but getting a job must not always be her goal.Also her family should be one of her top priorites of course after fulfilling all her Fard religious duties.Morover it's not as if a women inside her house will not be working ,she will be working indeed and a very hard work that needs time and dedication for she will be raising the leaders and scholars of our future Ummah.
May Allah guide us and all muslims and save us from the hell fire.
Salam