Questioner:

Is the woman who works but isn’t in need of money considered to be following her whims?

Shaykh ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz bin ʿAbdullāh bin Bāz:

This isn’t considered to be following whims – her working isn’t considered following whims. If the line of work is honourable and sound, amongst women without mixing with men or the unveiling of her adornments, but rather she works in a permissible line of work with her female sisters, which has within it no oppression or unjust treatment or committing forbidden actions, and her husband approves of that (her working) – if she has a husband. There is no problem for her to work and this isn’t considered following her whims. Works are of different types, for if it involves sins then it is obligatory to leave it. Or if it leads her to mix with men and to expose her adornments to men, this also is evil and it is obligatory to prevent the soul from following its whims in this. However, if it is a permissible or Islamically legislated line of work with her sisters, there is no problem with it. For example a teacher for girls, or a nurse for women, or a doctor for women, there is nothing wrong with this and there is no sin is doing this – and all praise is due to Allah.

Questioner:

Even if the woman isn’t in need of money?

Shaykh ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz bin ʿAbdullāh bin Bāz

Even if she isn’t in need – even if she isn’t. She can take money to increase her wealth or to give charity with it or for any other good cause.

Questioner:

The importance is in the conditions that you have stated?

Shaykh ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz bin ʿAbdullāh bin Bāz

Yes.