CIṞUPĀṈMAI CŪḺAMAIVIL MUSLIM PEṆKAḶ TĀTIYARKAḶĀKAP PAṆIPURITAL: ŌR ISLĀMIYA CAṬṬAVIYAL PAKUPPĀYVU [SERVING AS MUSLIM FEMALE NURSES IN MINORITY CONTEXT: AN ISLAMIC LEGAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

Nursing is one of the oldest and most sacred professions in the world. The nurses contribute immensely to society and healthcare organizations by providing their services in personal care, medical treatment management, and working with families and the communities. In Islam, the service of nurses is considered a phenomenal deed, and it is a Fardu Kifayah (Societal Obligation). However, Muslim female nurses face various challenges as they live as minority communities in pluralistic societies. Eventually, they are not interested in this sector. Accordingly, the study aims to identify the Islamic legal perspective on Muslim women's service as nurses in a minority context. Based on the qualitative research method, the data from primary sources of Islamic law, the Holy Qur'an and Sunnah, fatwas of Islamic scholars and international fiqh academies and the code of ethics for nurses found in topic-related data have been analysed using the content analysis method. This research deliberates the obstacles that Muslim women face when working as nurses in a minority environment, and the guidelines that they should adhere to when working as nurses in a minority context.