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Women and Freedom

Like men, women have been created free and desire to live without the intrusion of others. The inclination for freedom is a natural and legitimate desire. Islam respects the freedom of women and observes it in its legislation, provided that it is not contrary to the true interests of the collective human society. 

Freedom to Work

Islam regards women as one of the two pillars of the society and has given them various responsibilities. Women cannot and must not be useless constituents of the society. Islam regards work as an obligation and a superior form of worship.
The Messenger of Allah (S) has stated:
قال رسول الله (ص): «العبادةُ سَبْعُونَ جزءً أفضلها طَلَبُ الحَلال.»
“Worship has seventy elements; the noblest of which is endeavoring to gain legitimate income."
According to Islam, working is not a right but a duty and men and women are no different in this regard. Women must also perform their social duties and they are free in choosing their occupation.

Freedom to Marry

Like men, women are completely free in marriage and choosing their spouse. No one has the right to force a woman to marry or to choose a specific husband for her, even one’s father, mother, sibling, or grandparents. Imam Sadiq (‘a) has stated:
منصور بن حازم، عن أبي عبدالله (ع) قال: «تستأمر البكر و غيرها ولا تنكح إلّا بأمرها.»
“Women must be asked permission for their marriage, virgin or otherwise, and marriage is not correct without the woman’s behest.

Freedom to Seek Knowledge

Unmarried women may freely endeavor to acquire knowledge and no one has the right to prevent them from learning. However, a married woman must observe the rights of her spouse and children and must confer with her husband on this issue in order to reach a consensus.
The conditions surrounding this issue are similar to those of freedom in work. Of course, this refers to studying outside the home at educational facilities such as a university; studying at home in one’s leisure time is not detrimental to familial life.

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