'And Abide in Your Homes...'

31/05/2011| IslamWeb

The view that women are not permitted to leave their homes at all due to the general indication of the verse in which Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {And abide in your houses.} [Quran 33: 33], is not adducible because this part of the verse is followed by another part which reads: {And do not display yourselves as [was] the display of the former times of ignorance } which means forbidding the display of adornment when going out.

This verse implies a command that women are required to abide in their houses. Although the verse addresses the wives of the Prophet, , other women are implicitly included, and this is applicable if there is no other evidence to specify all women. Rather, the Sharee'ah (Islamic legislation) is replete with commands for women to abide in their houses and not to go out unless there is a necessity. 

This command does not mean that women are required to abide in their houses and never go out. Rather, it is a gentle hint that staying in the house should be the basis of their lives and going out should be the exception where they neither stay for a long time nor take up residence outside for a prolonged period. Rather, this should be according to one's need and necessity. 

It was transmitted that the Mothers of the Believers as well as other female Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, used to go out in order to fulfill their needs and participate in battles. The Messenger of Allah, , used to take Umm Sulaym, may Allah be pleased with her, with him, as well as women from the Ansaar (Helpers) during battles in order to bring water for the soldiers and treat the wounded. 

This indicates that it is permissible for women to participate in battle and benefit the soldiers by providing water and treating their Mahram (non-marriageable) men, and others as well when there is no touching of the skin beyond the injured spot. 

Here is the story of Umm ‘Ammaarah, may Allah be pleased with her, during the Battle of Uhud. She said, “I went out at the beginning of the day and with me was a vessel of water. I reached the Messenger of Allah while he was among his Companions and the Muslims were victorious. When the Muslims were defeated, I approached the Messenger of Allah and started to fight and defend the Messenger of Allah using the sword and the bow until I was finally wounded.” 

It was narrated on the authority of ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah saying: 'Whenever I turned right or left, I saw her (Umm ‘Ammaarah, may Allah be pleased with her) fighting and defending me." [Ibn Hajar in Fath Al-Baari]

Umm Sinaan Al-Aslamiyyah, may Allah be pleased with her, asked permission from the Prophet, , to take part in the Battle of Khaybar by providing water and treating the wounded. The Messenger of Allah, , responded: "I have given permission to women from your people and from others as well. You can go with Umm Salamah." [Khateeb]

Also, during the course of the Battle of Khaybar, a woman from Banu Ghifaar said, "I came to the Messenger of Allah along with a group of women from Banu Ghifaar and we said, 'O Messenger of Allah, we want to go out along with you (for the battle) in order to treat the wounded and help the Muslims as much as we can.' He replied: 'Go with the blessing of Allah.' So we went along with him." [Ahmad, Baihaqi]

Even a woman who is observing 'Iddah (post-marriage waiting period) may go out and do errands during the day, whether she is divorced or widowed, because of the Hadeeth narrated by Jaabir, may Allah be pleased with him, who said, "My maternal aunt was thrice divorced and she went out to harvest her palm trees. A man met her and told her not to do that. She mentioned that to the Prophet and he said: 'Go out and harvest your palm trees; perhaps you will give some of it in charity or do some good.'" [An-Nasaa'i, Abu Daawood]  

Mujaahid, may Allah have mercy on him, narrated,

Some men were martyred on the Day of Uhud and their wives came to the Messenger of Allah and said, "O Messenger of Allah, we feel scared at night; can we stay in the house of one of us, then in the morning we return to our houses?" The Messenger of Allah said: "Converse together in the house of one of you, then when you want to sleep, each one should go to her own house."

It was narrated that:

The Messenger of Allah entered upon ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, while a woman was sitting with her. He said: "Who is she?" She replied, "She is so and so," and told him about her (excessive) praying. He said disapprovingly: "Do (good) deeds which are within your capacity (without being overtaxed) as Allah does not feel tired[1] till you get tired (i.e.,Allah does not get tired of giving rewards but surely you will get tired), and the best deed (act of worship) in the sight of Allah is that which is done regularly." [Al-Bukhari]

Ash-Shifaa’, may Allah be pleased with her, was one of the early female immigrants who gave the pledge of allegiance to the Prophet, and was a wise and virtuous woman. Once, the Prophet, , said to her: "Teach Hafsah (his wife) the Ruqyah from Namlah (literary: ant)[2] just as you taught her how to write." [Al-Bukhari, Muslim] 

How could she teach her unless she went out and met her?

All these cases are examples where the Messenger of Allah, , knew, approved or explicitly commanded women to go out. If the verse meant that women are absolutely forbidden to go out, the Prophet, would have explicitly forbidden them from going out and would not have permitted it.

Perpetual confinement in the house was a punishment prescribed by the Sharee'ah (Islamic legislation) for women who commit adultery. Later, this punishment was abrogated and replaced by the corporal punishment prescribed for adultery. Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {Those who commit unlawful sexual intercourse of your women -- bring against them four [witnesses] from among you. And if they testify, confine the guilty women to houses until death takes them or Allah ordains for them [another] way.} [Quran 4: 15]

A chaste and observant woman who is God-conscious at all times, values how honorable and great her task and responsibility are. When she abides in her house, she performs a great and important work. She is not like vain and foolish women who are addicted to watching videos, movies and following the latest fashion trends.

She prepares her children to be heroes for the Muslim Ummah (nation) who will restore its glory. She educates them how to be proud of Islamic values in order to safeguard Islam with their own selves if need be when there is a confrontation with enemies, and to do their utmost in order to keep the word of Allah The Almighty high.

She will not leave her house unless the benefit in going out outweighs the benefits of staying at home, according to the Sharee'ah.

When she goes out, she observes the limits and manners prescribed by the Sharee'ah. She asks permission from her husband and does not go out without his permission for otherwise she will be disobedient to Allah The Almighty and His Messenger, .

In return, her Muslim husband observes the trust that he has undertaken in front of Allah The Almighty, that he is responsible for her and therefore keen to keep her away from doubtful places and means of slipping into non-observance of her religious duties. He supports her in doing what is good, in order to share with her the reward of her virtuous deeds -- whether she wants to visit her kindred, maintain ties of kinship, be dutiful to her parents, maintain good ties with other righteous Muslim sisters or seek religious knowledge. 

 

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[1] - We believe in and affirm the Attributes of Allah that occur in the Quran and authentic Hadeeths of the Prophet, , without distorting their wordings or meanings, nor denying, nor asking how, nor drawing resemblance between Allah and any of His creation.

[2]- It is a type of swelling that appears on the sides of the body. It causes a type of sting on the sides that makes one feel that an ant is crawling on his side and biting him.