Short answer
Yes, a woman may work and earn in halal work, and her earnings are hers alone. The conditions are hijab, no being alone with non-mahram men, a halal job, and, for a married woman, agreement with her husband so that his rights and the children are not neglected.
Permissible (mubah) with conditions. A married woman's maintenance is her husband's duty, so she is not obliged to earn, and she needs his consent to leave home regularly for work. Whatever she earns is her own property and she does not have to spend it on the household.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
Women worked in the early Muslim community. Khadijah, the first wife of the Prophet ﷺ, was a trader. Women sold goods, worked their land and nursed the wounded. The Quran says men have a share of what they earn and women have a share of what they earn. The four schools agree that a woman may work in principle.
The conditions the scholars set:
- The work is halal. No serving alcohol, interest-based selling, or work that requires showing the awrah.
- Hijab and modest conduct. Speaking to colleagues and customers is fine, with normal, businesslike speech.
- No khalwa. She should not be alone in a closed room or car with a non-mahram man.
- Family rights. A married woman agrees on work with her husband, and the care of young children is planned.
- Travel. Long work trips follow the rules in travelling without a mahram.
Her money is her own. Her husband must provide food, clothing and housing for her even if she earns more than he does. If she chooses to help with household costs, it is a kindness and a sadaqah, not a duty. She pays zakat on her own savings when they reach the nisab.
Fields such as medicine, midwifery and teaching girls are often described by scholars as a real community need, since Muslim women need female doctors and teachers. See rights of husband and wife for the wider picture.
The evidence
Quran, Surah An-Nisaa 4:32
وَلَا تَتَمَنَّوْا۟ مَا فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍۢ ۚ لِّلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌۭ مِّمَّا ٱكْتَسَبُوا۟ ۖ وَلِلنِّسَآءِ نَصِيبٌۭ مِّمَّا ٱكْتَسَبْنَ ۚ وَسْـَٔلُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مِن فَضْلِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمًۭا ﴿٣٢﴾
And do not wish for that by which Allah has made some of you exceed others. For men is a share of what they have earned, and for women is a share of what they have earned. And ask Allah of his bounty. Indeed Allah is ever, of all things, Knowing.
Affirms that women own what they earn.
Quran, Surah Al-Qasas 28:23
وَلَمَّا وَرَدَ مَآءَ مَدْيَنَ وَجَدَ عَلَيْهِ أُمَّةًۭ مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ يَسْقُونَ وَوَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمُ ٱمْرَأَتَيْنِ تَذُودَانِ ۖ قَالَ مَا خَطْبُكُمَا ۖ قَالَتَا لَا نَسْقِى حَتَّىٰ يُصْدِرَ ٱلرِّعَآءُ ۖ وَأَبُونَا شَيْخٌۭ كَبِيرٌۭ ﴿٢٣﴾
And when he came to the well of Madyan, he found there a crowd of people watering [their flocks], and he found aside from them two women driving back [their flocks]. He said, "What is your circumstance?" They said, "We do not water until the shepherds dispatch [their flocks]; and our father is an old man."
Shows women working outside the home with modesty, keeping apart from the men.
Sahih Muslim 1483
Sahih... بلى فجدي نخلك فإنك عسى أن تصدقي ...
"Yes, go and harvest your date palms, for perhaps you will give charity or do some good."
The Prophet ﷺ allowed a woman in her iddah to go out to work her orchard.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Durr al-Mukhtar, Kitab al-Talaq, chapter on maintenance (nafaqa). The husband's duty of maintenance and when the wife may go out.
- Bada'i al-Sana'i, Kitab al-Nikah, the rights of the spouses. The wife's property is her own and she is not obliged to spend on the home.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.