Not Islam, But Culture: The Real Barrier to Women in Trade
By Farishta Maqbool
When Islam allowed women to lead businesses 14 centuries ago, why are they being forced to stay out of the market today in the name of Islam?
This question highlights the tension between Islamic teachings and cultural practices in many Muslim countries. Restrictions on women in business are often justified as Islamic teaching. However, historical evidence from Islam shows that these restrictions are not mandated by the religion itself. Rather, they are more accurately rooted in cultural norms and selective interpretations of religious texts.
Taking the situation of Afghanistan, we can clearly observe how the Taliban have imposed restrictions on women in business in the name of Islam. Prior to 2021, women’s participation in the Afghan economy was steadily increasing. Women accounted for approximately 22% of public sector employment prior to the Taliban takeover, and the female labor force participation rate reached nearly 15.7% in 1990, declining to 5.1% by 2025. Women owned companies and enterprises that helped them contribute to the economy.
However, following the Taliban’s return to power, these developments were reversed. By 2024, the female labor force had declined to just 5.1%, placing Afghanistan among the lowest globally in terms of women’s economic participation. According to UNDP estimates, women’s employment dropped to just 6-7% in 2023.
Despite these barriers, Afghan women continue to engage in trade through informal and home-based enterprises. Reports indicate that 80% of women-led businesses are the main source of income for their families, with many women relying on home-based businesses as their primary source of income. These figures demonstrate how women’s talent and capability are being forcibly suppressed through policies falsely justified as religious teaching.
In Pakistan, women are not legally prohibited from participating in business. They are allowed to run companies and contribute to economic life, particularly in urban centers. However, labor participation remains low, with female labor force participation at approximately 24.4% according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Many women are confined to their homes due to restrictions justified by safety concerns and societal expectations. These barriers are not mandated by any religious text; rather, they are enforced through deeply ingrained cultural norms.
Muslim Societies Where Women Lead Businesses
In the United Arab Emirates, women own thousands of businesses and contribute millions of dollars to the economy. Up to 30% of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are run or owned by women, with approximately 11,000 women entrepreneurs investing Dh12.5 billion across various sectors. Similarly, in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, women own 64% of micro, small, and medium enterprises. Susi Pudjiastuti built a seafood export empire from scratch, becoming an inspiring example of female entrepreneurship. In Turkey, thousands of women entrepreneurs are supported by government programs. Since 2019, nearly 40,000 women have benefited from entrepreneurship training and support programs. Güler Sabancı serves as chairperson of one of Turkey’s largest industrial groups. Under Saudi Vision 2030, women now own 49.7% of all accommodation and food service businesses, totaling 59,800 establishments in 2024.
The variation across Muslim-majority societies proves that the difference lies not in the religion itself, but in how societies interpret and apply Islamic teachings.
Islam granted women economic rights 14 centuries ago. These rights include the ability to own property, manage wealth, and conduct business independently.
“For men is a share of what they have earned, and for women is a share of what they have earned.” — Qur’an 4:32
The Prophet ﷺ said: “O women, give charity…” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1466, Sahih Muslim 884)
This hadith clearly indicates that women possess independent financial control, as charity requires ownership of wealth. One of the strongest pieces of evidence for women engaging in trade is Khadija bint Khuwaylid. She was a successful merchant who hired the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to manage her trade caravans before their marriage. Even after they married, the Prophet never objected to her continuing her business activities. This prophetic example demonstrates that women’s participation in trade was not only permitted but actively practiced in early Islamic society.
The Consequences of Restriction
Restricting women from trade has far-reaching consequences. It limits economic growth, increases poverty, and denies individuals the fundamental right to work and earn a dignified living. According to UNDP estimates, constraints on women in Afghanistan’s workforce have made the country US$2 billion poorer in GDP terms. When half of a population is excluded from the economy, the entire society suffers.
Islam, as both its sacred texts and global practices demonstrate, does not prohibit women from trade. The restrictions observed in certain societies are the result of cultural norms, political choices, and selective interpretations, not religious necessity.
Ultimately, the question is not whether Islam allows women to trade—it clearly does. The real question is why, in some contexts, culture continues to deny what religion has already permitted.