Abstrak
Abstract: The increasing participation of women in the workforce carries dual implications for Muslim families: it strengthens economic resilience while also potentially generating conflicts between domestic and public roles. This raises questions about how Islamic law views the role of career women in maintaining family harmony, as well as how local religious institutions such as Jam’iyyah Pengasuh Pesantren Putri dan Mubalighoh (JP3M) in Kota Metro contribute alternative perspectives in addressing this issue. This study aims to analyze the role of career women from the perspective of Islamic law, explore the views of female scholars including the Kongres Ulama Perempuan Indonesia (KUPI), and examine JP3M’s perspectives on strategies for maintaining balance between professional careers and household responsibilities. The research employed fieldwork (field research) using a qualitative normative-sociological approach. Primary data were obtained through in-depth interviews and observations with JP3M members and career women in Kota Metro. Secondary data were drawn from literature on fiqh al-usrah, maqāṣid al-syarī‘ah, contemporary fatwas, and studies by female scholars. The data were analyzed thematically, linking Islamic legal norms with the social realities of the community. The findings indicate that Islamic law conditionally permits women to work, provided they observe syar‘i ethics and do not neglect family responsibilities. Female scholars, particularly KUPI, emphasize the principles of mubādalah (reciprocity) and substantive justice, thereby positioning women’s work as an act of public good (maṣlaḥah) when it supports family resilience. JP3M in Kota Metro reinforces this view by highlighting the importance of role negotiation (musyawarah), equitable division of domestic labor, institutional support, and family-friendly public policies. Thus, career women are not in conflict with family harmony but instead serve as strategic partners in realizing Muslim families characterized by sakinah, mawaddah, and raḥmah.