Emotional balance in marriage Balance is also needed in the emotional life of marriage. If there is one thing we see repeatedly, it is that extremes do not help. Extremes, whether difficulty regulating emotions or emotional distance, can both be challenging. Some people are overwhelmed by emotion and cannot regulate themselves well. Others become so…
When we speak about the treatment of women, sometimes people feel uncomfortable raising these issues, not because there is anything embarrassing in the Qur’an or the Sunnah, but because what we see in some homes and communities is not always the Islam of the Qur’an and the Sunnah. It is often culture. Of course, there…
Burying a foetus in Islam The loss of a foetus is one of the most painful experiences a family can go through. The rulings on how to bury the foetus differ according to the stage of pregnancy and whether the baby showed signs of life after delivery. The basis for the 120-day distinction A key…
There is an enormous amount of information and research work on Muslim women that is confused with culture and unsubstantiated. A big part of that confusion is that we no longer know what is genuinely Islamic and what is just culture. On top of that, we are constantly being fed images from media, films, drama,…
Why would someone born in London, who had lived her entire life in London, and who had very few close friends in a headscarf choose to wear a headscarf (hijab)? Let me start by asking: When is a piece of cloth not just a piece of cloth? When it is a superhero cape. This is…
Islam makes a clear distinction between ḥayḍ (menstrual bleeding) and istiḥāḍah (irregular or non-menstrual bleeding). If the bleeding is istiḥāḍah, even if it is very heavy, the rulings of menstruation do not apply. This means that prayer, fasting, and other acts of worship remain obligatory. Fāṭimah bint Abī Ḥubaysh (may Allah be pleased with her)…
Though it is a common feature of masajid that they separate men and women, it is not a necessity to have a physical barrier between men and women during congregational (jamāʿah) prayer or in the mosque generally. It is important to clarify this point, as not all mosques have the space to create separate men…
The position of women during salah in the Hanafi Madhhab In the Hanafi school of thought, the manner in which a woman performs salah differs in several key ways from that of a man. It differentiates between the prayer posture of men and women based on modesty and humility. 1. Standing (Qiyām) A woman…
A woman who has had a miscarriage falls into one of two cases: 1. The first is if the foetus was fully formed or its creation was clearly visible, such as its hands, feet, or other features. In this case, the woman is considered in the post-partum period (nifas). This is the opinion of the…
The essential components of a nikkah In order for a nikkah (the Islamic marriage contract) to be valid, certain elements are required: Consent of both parties Mutual Agreement: Both the bride and groom must agree to the marriage willingly and without any coercion. Their consent is crucial for the validity of the nikkah. Ijab and…
Medical scans, such as MRIs, CT scans, or X-rays may require the removal of hijab. This can be a sensitive issue for many Muslim women who wish to maintain their modesty. Medical scans often require patients to remove any clothing or accessories that might interfere with the imaging process. For many Muslim women, the thought…
Can women go to the mosque during their period? The question of whether women can attend the mosque during their menstrual periods is a topic of discussion among scholars. Different schools of thought have varying perspectives on this matter, and understanding these can help provide clarity on the issue. The Islamic perspective on menstruation In…
In general, the issue of whether menstruating women can visit the mosque is subject to varying interpretations among different scholars and schools of thought. In a nutshell, there are two primary perspectives on this matter: Prohibition View: Some scholars and traditional schools of thought, such as the Hanafi and Hanbali schools, maintain that menstruating women…
The topic of inspirational women in Islam undoubtedly begins with our beloved mother and remarkable figure of Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her). All the blessings we have from the message of the Prophet (peace be upon him) owe half their share to her, as she was his support. Her love and trust in…
The widespread exclusion of women from mosques There is a very strong and prevalent view that a woman’s place is in the home, and also by extension that her place to pray is in the home. Consequently, women are barred from entering many mosques in UK and in other parts of the world. Quite often…