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Fatwa CenterAging, Unwed Female Worried about Her Future
Question
What is the place of a female in Islam who is unmarried, aged 45, with no one to support her financially, and is very disturbed about her old age? There is total darkness about her future. Guide according to Islam.
Answer
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 
is His slave and Messenger.
Islam has given the woman a great status and honored her, made it an obligation to take care of her and achieve her affairs, and made it a duty to nurture her. She is to be brought up by her parents until she gets married.
Islam made it a duty upon the husband, if any, to fulfill her needs, and a duty upon the children to be kind and dutiful to her. If there is a woman at this age who has no one to take care of her financially, it is permissible for her to approach a man who is trustworthy in his religion and conduct and offer herself in marriage to him; Allah may bless her with righteous children. She can also seek employment or respectable and permissible work according to Islamic jurisprudence in order to satisfy her needs and not have to depend upon anybody.
If she can’t find work (or cannot work) and cannot get married, then the ruler, if any, has to fulfill her needs. If there is no (Muslim) ruler, then it is a duty upon the Muslims (organizations and individuals) to fulfill her need.
There is no doubt that her social and financial problems will be solved by getting married and working, and by society taking care of her.
All of this will help her to live a happy Islamic life, Allah willing.
But first and foremost we advise her to seek the help of Allah in all her matters and perform many good deeds and remember Allah much.
The means of success of this world and the Hereafter is in the obedience of Allah, His remembrance, and being a God-fearing person.
Allah Says (what means):
• {…and fear Allah that you may be successful} [Quran 2:189]
• {…and remember Allah much that you may be successful.} [Quran 8:45]
Allah knows best.
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