𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 (180)

Is the husband allowed to prevent his wife from working at home? Ibn Aṣ-Ṣalāḥ ('Uthman ibn 'Abdirrahmān - D. 643 H) rahimahullah mentioned that: وَلَيْسَ لَهُ منعهَا من الْخياطَة، والرقم، والغزل وَنَحْوهَا فِي منزله. "He has no right to prevent her from sewing, embroidery, spinning, and similar activities in his home." [Fatāwā Ibn Aṣ-Ṣalāḥ (2/ 453)] Similarly, Sheikh Uthaymeen raḥimahullāh stated: وقوله: (من إجارة نفسها) يفهم منه أنها لو استُؤجرت على عمل، بأن تكون امرأة خياطة مثلاً، وصارت تخيط للناس بأجرة في بيتها، فليس له منعها، إلا إذا رأى في ذلك تقصيراً منها في حقه فله المنع. فصارت المرأة إن أجَّرت نفسها فله منعها مطلقاً، حتى لو قالت: أنا أريد أن أؤجر نفسي ما دمت غائباً عن البلد، فله منعها...أما إذا استؤجِرت على عمل وهي في بيت زوجها، فليس له المنع، إلا إذا قصرت في حقه فله منعها. "His statement "from renting herself (for work)" implies that if she were hired to work, such as being a seamstress, for example, and she began sewing for people for a fee in her own home, HE HAS NO RIGHT TO PREVENT HER unless he sees that this will make her fall short in fulfilling his rights, in which case he has the right to prevent her. Likewise, if a woman hires herself out (outside the home), he has the right to prevent her completely, even if she says, "I want to hire myself out as long as you are absent from the country," he still has the right to prevent her...However, if she is hired to work while in her husband's home, he has no right to prevent her, unless she falls short in fulfilling his rights, in which case, he has the right to prevent her." [Ash-Sharh Al-Mumti' (12/425)]