Question
Reference number: 474007 | Clothing and Accessories Legislations | April 17, 2022
What is the ruling if a woman wants to work as a police officer, and what is the ruling on her dress?
Answer
Praise Be to Allah and Peace Be Upon His Messenger.
Referring to your question, the woman is allowed to work according to Islamic Shari’a as long as her job does not contradict with other duties especially if she has kids. There are some restrictions that a woman should consider while being in her workplace. The work itself should be acceptable in Islam; she should keep modesty, and she should wear the modest dress which Allah asks all women to wear. She should also be modest when she talks to men.
Shaikh Muhammad Ahmad Hussain, the General Mufti (Muslim Legal Scholar), in the Palestinian Legal Verdict Council was once asked about the modest clothes that a Muslim woman should wear, and whether they are obligatory or not. He said: “Allah has ordained all Muslim women to observe Hijab for a purpose. It is to keep modesty and purity in society. Wearing Hijab is obligatory as Allah says: “O prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies. That will be better, that they will be known (as free respectful women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” Al-Ahzab: 59”
Clothes restrictions which are determined by Islamic Shari’a are:
- What she wears should cover all her body except for the eyes and palms. Allah says: “And not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent.” An-Nur: 31
This part of the verse was interpreted by allowing her to show her face, palms and the ring she wears.
- The dress itself should not be too decorated and colorful to be like adornment so as not to attract strange men.
- It should be loose, and it should not be transparent so as not to be describable. The prophet said: “There are two types of people who will be punished in Hell, and whom I have not seen: men having whips like the tails of cows, and they will be beating people with them, and women who will be dressed but appear to be naked…” Related by Muslim.
- Clothes should not be perfumed as the Muslim woman is not allowed to go out while being perfumed.
- The woman should not wear clothes which are similar to the clothes of disbelievers.
- The clothes that a woman wears should not look like the clothes of men. The prophet said: “Allah has cursed women who imitate men and men who imitate women.” Sunan Abu Dawood.
Therefore, if a woman observes all the previously-mentioned condition, she can work anywhere.