Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif Aal Al-Sheikh, Chief of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, the Hai'a, met here Sunday with the directors of the organization's branches. He said the directors must abide by the instructions and rules governing the commission's tasks and follow in the footsteps of the Prophet (peace be upon him) by dealing with the public without excessiveness and with wisdom and kindness. He said the leadership wants to ensure that the Hai'a carries out its role effectively and to eradicate misconceptions about this much-needed Islamic organization. A Royal Order issued earlier this month appointed Sheikh Abdullatif Aal Al-Sheikh as the chief of Hai'a. In a telephone interview with Okaz/Saudi Gazette shortly after being appointed, Aal Al-Sheikh said that officials of the Commission will be tasked with promoting virtue and preventing vice without getting involved in wrongdoing themselves. Aal Al-Sheikh is known for his moderate views. In a research on women's work, he said there was nothing wrong with women working as long as the nature of work and the work place are not forbidden in Islam. He said Allah had permitted it and legislated protections for it that are concerned with where the woman works and with whom she associates. He said many situations required women to work like when they have to meet the financial needs of their families or fulfill the needs of the society. In a reference to working as cashiers, he said there was nothing wrong with women dealing with customers who may be men, as the nature of dealing is instant and is carried out under surveillance cameras. Moreover, such workplaces are also frequented by government officials such as the members of the Hai'a. He cited examples of women working during the Prophetic era to support this view. Moreover, he said, supermarkets are frequented by thousands of women. He, however, emphasized that such jobs should not prevent them from their Islamic obligations such as Hijab and prayer. Also, a woman must maintain her outward and inward modesty and chastity, he added.
