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From: bes@tybalt.caltech.edu (Behnam Sadeghi)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam
Subject: Re: Hijab
Message-ID: <1991May9.144746.5729@nntp-server.caltech.edu>
Date: 9 May 91 14:47:46 GMT
Sender: bes@nntp-server.caltech.edu (Behnam Sadeghi)
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
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lateef@eemips.tamu.edu (Afroz Lateef) writes:

>>You are projecting  your own culture onto Islam.    According to ahadith 
>>(traditions) there were numerous Muslim women during the Prophet's lifetime 
>>that engaged in work outside their homes (e.g. traders, shepherdesses, 
>>etc.) with the Prophet's knowledge.  And there isn't any record of the 
>>Prophet criticizing these women.   There were reportedly even women who 
>>participated in jihad, although jihad was not obligatory for women.   
>>Furthermore, there isn't anything in Islam to the effect that working 
>>is not "dignified."  
>
>  Can u give me references to the ahadith. I am loolking for the 
>	hadith (not that i say it is false , i accept it but it's better ot 
>	have the proof for future  ).   

Recently, I gave a referrence to a book edited by Afzular Rahman and quoted 
several ahadith about this. ( I didn't have time to type them all).  I think 
you will be able to find that article if you browse back in the postings.

>	As to women working, no doubt they are not prohibited from working.
> 	But should they be sent to work and a man (husband) sits home?
>	Women should work if they have the necessity to work, such as
>	if she is on her own and has to take care of her children, 
>	or if the couple can't get both ends to meet.	

Is there anything in the Qur'an or ahadith to the efect that women should 
not work outside unless they are forced by necessity?  I don't think so.  

>	And there are some jobs which are more suitable for women than 
>	for men (gynaecology, obstetrician, nurses, teacher etc. etc.)
>	wherein women are more open to women. But even then  a woman has
>	to wear proper hijab. Why do we have more maids than male-servants.
>	But still a woman's priority is towards her children/husband.
>
>	But presently women have become a symbol to sell commodities.
>	modelling for a-z products. Like modelling for men's after shave 
>	lotion, for selling tractor (this happened in Egypt). That is why 
>	they have air hostesses, to sell their airlines.
>
>      Do you or anybody else think that this is dignified?

If an air hostess doesn't observe modest dress as required by Islam, then
she is violating Islam.  But if she does obsrve modest dress (like the 
air hostesses of Iran Air who observe full Islamic hijab), then I don't see
what is undignified about it.

Obviously, any work that is un-Islamic is undignfied 
and should be avoided by both men and women.  But that isn't what we were 
talking about.  You wrote: "it is beyond the dignity of an Islamic lady to 
go out and work."  You were not talking only about work that involves vilation
of Islam.

>	Women should work:
>	1)if it is necessary for them or for others (like offering their 
>	services)
>
>     Afroz LAteef

Behnam Sadeghi