Questioner:

Is it permissible for a woman to go out and work? I started working after I graduated, but I always question myself as to whether Allah is pleased with me or not. Please advise me. — A young girl from Yemen. 

Shaykh Muḥammed ibn Ṣāliḥ Al-‘Uthaymīn:

There is no issue with a woman leaving her house if she has to, especially if she’s doing so to fulfil the needs of others, such as going to a school to teach Muslim women. She is rewarded for this, because she solely went out to meet the needs of others and provide them benefit. However, she should neither beautify nor perfume herself. Rather she must dress in accordance to the Islamic legislation, which is to cover the face and other areas – which if left uncovered – would result in fitnah.

She should not free-mix with men, because free-mixing with men is a cause of fitnah, which is why the Prophet ﷺ said, “The best row for men is the first, and the worst is the last, and the best row for women is the last and the worst is the first’. The reason the last row is better for women is because it is the furthest from having to free-mix with men. And that is what the Prophet ﷺ implied: the further a woman is from free-mixing with men, the better it is for her. So, leave your house if you need to go work at a school or any other job, as long as you are not free-mixing or adorning and perfuming yourself.