A woman’s mahram is a man to whom she is related by blood or cannot marry: Father, grandfather, great-grandfathers. Sons, grandsons, great-grandsons. Brothers and half-brothers (brother with whom one shares one parent). Milk brother (brother who was breastfed by one’s mother) Nephews. Paternal and maternal uncles. Father in law Related posts What beauty treatments are…
During his life in Makkah, in the early years after the revelation, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) began spreading the basic concepts of Islam, but as he (peace be on him) and his followers were met with hostility, discrimination and persecution, those 13 years were characterised by survival – at a personal level…
Do women have to wear a headscarf? It is commanded by Allah that believing women have to wear a headscarf. The Quran is absolutely clear on this matter. Though some argue that it is not a requirement, in fact there is no room for debate on this as we will see in this article. The…
The power of smell The powerful effect of smells cannot be underestimated. There is a deep science behind the psychology of smells. Smells in animal kingdom are used to send sophisticated signals, and in aromatherapy they are used to alter mood, and are effective in evoking memories. The clean and fresh ummah In Islam we…
What is the definition of zina? Zina is illicit sexual intercourse – having sex with someone you are not married to. We have been warned about zina in many narrations in the hadith and in the Quran Allah Almighty did not just say ‘Don’t commit zina’ but ‘Don’t come near zina’ (la taqrabu zina). This…
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. Accordingly scholars cannot negate this. Abu Sa’id al-Khudri…
Forced marriages are haram in Islam. Shariah From a legal point of view the Islamic marriage contract requires 4 conditions to be fulfilled to be valid. The very first of these is the consent of the couple – the bride and the groom. (The other three are the consent of the bride’s guardian (Wali) if…
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…
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…
Women’s Right to Fair Treatment Women’s Day is a reminder that we still have not secured freedom from oppression for women. Isn’t it time that we deliver women the rights that Islam gave them 1400 years ago? O mankind we have created you from a male and female and we have made you into tribes…
Delivered 2015.
Specific examples of inspiring and respected women from the time of the Prophet PBUH. Also notes on Quranic accounts of Eve and the Queen of Sheba.