Common misconceptions: What beauty treatments are permissible in Islam? Can women pluck their eyebrows?
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Common misconceptions: What beauty treatments are permissible in Islam? Can women pluck their eyebrows?

The beautification and adornment of women goes back to time immemorial. If a woman wants to beautify herself what are the limits? Beautification can be sinful and can be rewarding. The basic principle in Islam is that beautification in public is not permissible. In Islam, women can beautify themselves within their homes (i.e in front…

Can a woman travel without a mahram? Can she go for Hajj unaccompanied by a mahram?
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Common misconceptions: Can a woman travel without a mahram? Can women go for Hajj unaccompanied by a mahram?

The prohibition on travelling the distance of 3 days unaccompanied The majority of narrations state and confirm that it is not permissible for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to travel the distance of 3 days and 3 nights unaccompanied by a mahram. The majority of early jurists, particularly from the…

Can women visit the graveyard?
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Common misconceptions: Can women visit the graveyard?

Praying the salatul janaza (janaza prayer) Praying the janazah (funeral) prayer is prescribed for both men and women, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever attends the janazah until he offers the prayer will have one qirat (of reward), and whoever attends until (the deceased) is buried will have…

How long is iddah for widows? Do older women need to observe iddah?
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Common misconceptions: How long is iddah for widows? Do older women need to observe iddah?

How long is the mourning period  in Islam Mourning lasts for three days for everyone except the widow. The widow has to mourn four months and ten days, as stipulated in the Quran: And those of you who die and leave wives behind them, they (the wives) shall wait (as regards their marriage) for four…

silencing women is not the prophetic way
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Common misconceptions: Silencing women is not the prophetic way

Islam came to liberate women from the abusive and oppressive mentality which had existed towards in the Arab community for centuries. Islam gave woman the freedom to express herself and to be independent, financially and socially. She could get an education, she could do business, and she had a voice. It is culture which perpetuates…

Common misconceptions: Are men superior to women in Islam?
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Common misconceptions: Are men superior to women in Islam?

A commonly misunderstood and misinterpreted concept is whether men are superior to women. For a long time, men have enjoyed feeling that they are better than women and feeling that they are in the position of masters. Superiority? In the Quran, Allah Almighty says men have a degree (daraja) over women – which gives men…

(2:282) the power to forget
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Common misconceptions: Is one man equal to two women in Islam?

THE POWER TO FORGET  Is one man equal to two women?    ‘Have two witnesses from among your men, and if two men are not there, then one man and two women from those witnesses whom you like, so that if one of the two women errs, the other woman may remind her.’ (2:282)  Does…

marriage is not a life sentence
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Common misconceptions: Staying in a bad marriage out of sabr

Marriage is not a life sentence. Breaking taboos Islam is not an alien religion which puts women under threat or expects them to tolerate abuse or harm. Any abuse is haram. I am not in any way promoting or encouraging divorce, or the break up of families and upheaval of children, but if a marriage…

islamic practices vs cultural practices at death
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Islamic Practices vs Cultural Practices at Death

When a loved one passes away, what practices are cultural and what are Islamic? Islamic funeral arrangements can often evoke quite heated feelings. There are those who are adamant that certain practices should take place and others who are quite vocal against them. Allah Almighty wants ease, simplicity and compassion for the grieving family, yet…