Dr. `Abdel Fattah Idrees, professor of Comparative Jurisprudence at Al-Azhar University, states the following: “Dear Sister, according to Islamic Shari`ah, Jihad is not imposed upon women but in three cases:
1- If the enemy invades the lands of Muslims; in this case, it becomes obligatory on every one, male and female, to go out for Jihad and fight for the Cause of Allah.
2- If the Muslim leaders call upon the whole Muslim Ummah to perform Jihad; then it also becomes obligatory.
3- If the Muslim leader appoints certain women to do certain tasks such as monitoring the enemy, lying mines; in this case it becomes obligatory on women to carry out the duty entrusted to them.
But for these cases, a woman is not required to strive for Jihad in battles. Once, the mother of believers, `A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) if a woman has to participate in Jihad. He said: “Yes, but it is a Jihad with no fight. The best Jihad (for women) it is to perform Hajj and `Umrah.”
This does not prevent women from taking part in the battlefield. A woman can participate in Jihad if this poses no risk or danger to her dignity. She can also help in preparing food, curing the injured, carrying weapons. It is reported that `A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) used to go out with a number of the women of Al-Ansar to cure the injured and bring water to the fighters. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to give such participating women a share of the spoils of war.
This is about taking part in battles, but still a Muslim woman can participate in Jihad by providing the army with money, or propagating the just cause of Muslim wars by making the best use of modern forms of technology, etc.”