Career Women in the Perspective of the Prophetic Hadith: Analysis of Adzim Ibnu Katsir's Tafsir of the Qur'an

Abstract

As times change, an increasing number of life's issues cannot be understood through a narrow or fragmented lens. Similarly, understanding Hadith and religious texts requires engagement with various disciplines to strike a balance between real-world relevance and religious interpretation. This study demonstrates that the role of women is not confined to that of a homemaker but extends to a much broader scope. Women have the opportunity to develop their potential across various fields, just as women did during the time of the Prophet (PBUH). This study employs a qualitative approach specifically library research and utilizes content analysis to examine the exegesis (tafsir) of Ibn Kathir. The article focuses on analyzing Surah Al-Ahzab, verses 32–34. According to Imam Ibn Kathir, these verses cannot be cited as grounds to prohibit women from pursuing a career or engaging in activities outside the home. On the contrary, the context of their revelation reflects the social conditions of the Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic) era, which deviated from religious values. During that period, social customs involved gatherings where men and women mingled without boundaries, creating a potential for illicit sexual relations (zina). Consequently, these verses served as a means of moral and social correction. Imam Ibn Kathir permits women to leave the home for valid religious reasons (hajat syar’i), such as performing prayers at the mosque, working, and engaging in other activities sanctioned by Sharia. Women attain merit from Allah Swt. when they observe the prescribed etiquettes while outside the home. Thus, women possess the same freedom as men to make life choices, provided they do not transgress the boundaries established by religion.