Q. Who of a woman’s relatives should look after her? If a woman has no one to support her, or if her relatives abandon her, how is she to survive? Is she entitled in this case to be supported by the Islamic state? Can she claim support from the state in raising her young children, if she has no one to support her?
S.R. Khan
A. According to Islamic law, a woman is not required to work in order to earn her living. She is entitled to be supported by her husband or family. A man is duty bound to look after his wife, ensuring that she has a decent standard of living, in accordance with his means and with what is reasonable.
An unmarried woman or a widow is entitled to be supported by her immediate relatives, according to their degree of relation. The closer to her has more responsibility.
Thus a woman’s father should support her if he has the means to do so. Her son is required to support her as a duty. If she has no husband, father or son to look after her, then her brothers or uncles should undertake this task. However, the latter should do this even though it is not required of them as a duty in the same sense as it is required of a husband, father, or son.
If a woman has no relative who can look after her, she is entitled to be supported by the government in accordance with Islamic law. If she has young children to bring up, they also must be supported by the government. Having said this, I realize that governments in most Muslim countries may have a social security system in place, but such a system is often inadequate or cannot cope with the widespread level of poverty.
Yet if the governments in many Muslim countries would only operate the zakah system properly, it is bound to provide a good solution to the problem of poverty and look after the weaker elements in Muslim society.
The sad thing is that they do not realize this, or if they realize it, they do not want to have anything to do with it.
Timing of a Woman’s Visit to Madinah
Q. My family is planning to visit Madinah in order to worship in the mosque of the Prophet (peace be upon him), but I am afraid the timing may be wrong for me as I may well be in my period. Could you please let me know whether I will be able to stay in the Prophet’s mosque and read the Qur’an during that time.
R. Siddiqui
A. Most scholars agree that certain restrictions apply to any person when he or she is the state of ceremonial impurity, or janabah, and to a woman who is in her period. This state occurs as a result of sexual intercourse, a wet dream or ejaculation accompanied by arousal. People who are in the state of janabah may not offer prayers, stay in a mosque or read the Qur’an until they have performed the grand ablution or ghusl. In addition, a woman who is in her period may not fast or have sexual intercourse with her husband. Some scholars disagree about some of these restrictions, but the majority view is what I have outlined. However, a person who is in this state may enter a mosque so as to cross from one side to another. He may not stay for any length of time other than what he needs to cross over. It is permissible for people in either condition to glorify God, extol His praises and say any supplication.
The lady reader should persuade her family to time their visit to Madinah so as she would not be in her period to allow her to benefit by visiting the Prophet’s mosque and worshipping there. The reward of prayer offered in the Prophet’s mosque is 1,000 times as much as for prayer in other mosques, except for the Sacred Mosque in Makkah. Her father or husband should consider her situation and ensure that she is able to benefit by the visit alongside other members of her family.
