The Preamble A big misconception many people in our times have is that we don’t necessarily know how to understand fatawa. Too often, we come across something online or hear something in a general lecture and apply it to specific circumstances, without taking into consideration any nuances at play. This is not correct. Fatawa are not always blanket, for everyone to take and run with...
As-salaam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu, Below is detailed a series of questions relating to the topic of sexual intimacy between a husband and wife, the rights of each over the other, and some rulings pertaining to the matter when things do not go as expected (i.e. enthusiasm from both partners to enjoy each other). Context & Commentary Sexual intimacy within the bounds of an Islamic...
Purely armchair psychology coming in, but, my working theory is: Domestic abuse is rife in traditional desi families of our parents’ age. By this I mean not just physical violence (which is actually not the norm) but the abuse which takes place by essentially using a wife as a maid for not only her husband but his entire family. She is also often openly disrespected, especially within the...
There are several factors and points of clarification when it comes to how Islam handles the concept of adoption. Because of the strict segregation between genders, there are sensitivities at hand which the non-Muslim never has to consider, but alhamdulillah, it is still not only very doable, but also highly encouraged within the religion. Inshallah, I hope to present the relevant proofs and...
The Context A sister posted to our sub about some questions and misconceptions she had about Salafiyyah, and what it means to be upon the methodology of the Salaf. She was interested in learning more and getting an "insider’s perspective," if you will, on some of her questions. This post is heavily edited from when it was first posted a year ago, as my understanding of certain...
The Context A sister posted to our sub bemoaning the Hoor al-‘Ayn that men receive in Jannah. This unmarried, unengaged, single sister talked about how she spent hours crying some days, thinking how her husband will have hooris if he enters Jannah. The Response Sister, it seems to me you have a fundamental flaw in your understanding of a few key concepts related to both life and the...
The Context A sister posted to the our sub about some abuse she suffered in the past, which has lasting trauma and mental health concerns for her in the present. Was she obligated to tell any suitors about this? Should she keep it to herself? Another component of her post was about revealing her abuser, who seemed to have turned a new leaf and changed their ways completely—did this fall...
A user commented: Mahr yes. Wali no. In Hanafi law, a woman is fully authorized to give herself in nikah without a wali. In fact that is presently the law in Pakistan. A man and a woman can go to oath councilor and register consent in the presence of two witnesses who are already there and it will be considered legal by Islamic law in total absence of a Wali. Other three schools make it mandatory...
Fatima bint Qays (radhiAllah anha) said: "I told him (i.e., the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)) that Mu’awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan and Abu Jahm had both proposed marriage to me, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘As for Abu Jahm, his stick never leaves his shoulder [meaning that he hits women]; as for Mu’awiyah, he is destitute and has no wealth. Marry Usamah ibn Zayd.’ But I...
Some time ago, we had a post asking what was stopping Muslim women from getting married. In the course of that thread, I was kindly asked to expound on some of what I stated regarding the differences in how marriage is perceived when one is younger vs. older and more mature. This post is the response to that request, inshallah. I’d like to apologize upfront if the post rambles a bit too...