Some people ask me: Do you regard it appropriate for women to work? I say: Of course, I do. I am against unemployment of women; women should work. But, we have two types of work: one type is working at home [as a housewife] and the other working outside the house; they are both are works. If one has the talent to do work a job out of home, they should engage in them; it is great. But there is one prerequisite to it: it should be in a manner that this employment does not hurt the bond between husband and wife; so is true even for the work inside the house. There are some women who work too much from morning to night [doing house chores], and when their men come home, they do not have the energy to even smile at their men. This is bad, too. The housework should be done, but not so much that it leads to the destruction of the family.
February 1, 1994
If the woman wants to work, there is no problem, Islam is not against it. But it is not her duty. This is not obligatory on her. What is obligatory for her to do is to preserve the vital ambience for the whole family.
May 29, 2002
