The book Great Women of Islam Who Were Given the Good News of Paradise by Darussalam details a lot of areas in which the female Companions of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, participated and actively contributed in cooperation with their male compatriots such as in the fields of religion, politics, education, fine arts, industry, trade, and commerce. By comparison, it appears today's practicing Muslim women are nowhere near them, as it is being increasingly preached to observe not just the hijab but the niqab too and to avoid mixing with the opposite sex as much as possible. In this book, however, there are many examples of how women worked beside men in all these fields and for purposes of need, they used to interact with each other and ask after each other's welfbeing and so on. With regard to being active in the battlefield and in managing trade and industry, which definitely required interaction and also movement outside the home, is it possible that they wore the niqab all the time? That would have been most uncomfortable! Please elaborate...

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

In Islam, the Muslim woman is allowed to work in all lawful fields provided that she observes the relevant Sharia provisions that have previously been underlined in fatwas 83607 and 82399.

It is not strictly prohibited for non-Mahram (marriageable) men and women to talk with one another. Rather, it is allowable as long as there is no fear of Fitnah (temptation), as evidenced by the Quran. In the context of underlining the Islamic etiquette of male-female interaction, Allah, The Exalted, says (what means): {O wives of the Prophet, you are not like anyone among women. If you fear Allah, then do not be soft in speech (to men), lest he in whose heart is disease should covet, but speak with appropriate speech.} [Quran 33:32]

Though the verse addresses the wives of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, its indication is general to all women, as underlined by Ibn Katheer in his interpretation of the Quran. Al-Qurtubi said, "(Do not be soft in speech) means do not speak softly with (non-Mahram) men. Allah ordered them to speak with a strong, clear voice as opposed to speaking in a tempting, soft manner that might imply (to the listener) a tendency to immorality, as was the custom of the Arab women in addressing men in a soft, attractive manner like immoral women..."

Muslim women in the lifetime of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and the era of the rightly guided Caliphs used to work in all lawful fields and lines of work while observing the hijab and modesty, and it never hindered their efforts. The reality of these past eras testifies to this fact, and so does the reality of our present day. We see many Muslim women wearing the full Islamic hijab, veiling their faces, without facing any inconvenience or problem in carrying out their work as due with no hindrances. In fact, the woman's adherence to the Islamic Sharia may be the reason for her success in carrying out her work more perfectly and efficiently.

Finally, scholars held different views regarding the ruling on the face veil; some scholars held that it is obligatory on the Muslim woman to cover her face, and many of them held that it is recommended. However, all scholars unanimously agreed that it is legislated in Islam. For more benefit, please refer to fatwas 81554 and 83033.

Allah knows best.