Exploring the Issues of Working Women in Pakistani Society: Critical Appraisal in Šhāriʿah Perspective

Abstract

Women employment is a common issue around the world in the contemporary age. 
Women engagement in jobs is a practical issue of the modern age and is espoused by 
almost all the nations and countries globally. In the west, women rights include 
employment, business, property, and education etc. These rights were recognized after 
the struggles Of Women Liberation Movement (during late 1960s). On the other 
hand, In Islāmic history these rights were acknowledged since the inception of Islām. 
In the western society, a woman is bound to earn her livelihood as it is not the 
responsibility of a man to provide her basic needs. However, Islām protects a woman 
legally for the provision of all her basic necessities as it is the duty of her blood relatives 
like father, brother, husband, and son to provide these things to her. Even In certain 
situations, Islām permits a woman to do a job or run a business to earn money but 
this permission is subjected to some conditions implemented by Islām. Those may be 
carried out with the permission of her husband or father. Besides employment, a 
woman should also perform her responsibilities at her home because it is her basic 
obligation. So she must be careful about her husband and children rights as well. 
Women must wear hijab outdoors and also avoid mixing with stranger men and 
should follow other social teachings of Islām. Women have complete freedom to spend 
her earnings anywhere because it will be her own property. Islāmic history reveals the 
truth that many of the wives of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and female companions