Category: Marriage and Family life

When I started looking for a wife, my only intention was to find a Muslim woman who could help me become a better Muslim. After praying to Allah (the Mighty) many times, I came to know of a Muslim brother in my area who had an unwed sister. I was told that she was seven years older than I was, had no college education, and had minor health problems. Despite this, I arranged for a meeting to discuss the possibility of marriage. When I met her, I was impressed by her modesty (she wore a real hijab that covered everything but her face). She was not attractive, nor was she

The most common questions I get from young people are, “Do Muslims date?” and, “If they don’t date, how do they decide whose the right person for them to marry?” “Dating” as it is currently practiced in much of the world does not exist among Muslims – where a young man and woman (or boy/girl) are in a one-on-one intimate relationship, spending time together alone, “getting to know each other” in a very deep way before deciding whether that’s the person they want to marry. Rather, in Islaam pre-marital relationships of any kind between members of the opposite sex are forbidden. The choice of a marriage partner is one of

As an American woman embracing Islam, there are often hurdles and challenges to be met. One of the most difficult aspects of Islam for me to accept was the permissibility of polygyny. The very thought of it seemed so bizarre and I chose to ignore it rather than accept it or to ever take part in it. I embraced Islam about seven years ago. This was also the beginning of a long struggle in search of the perfect husband and father-figure for my children and me. I was provided a guardian (Wali) by my community in order to handle this matter in the correct manner as to avoid mixing unnecessarily

The following interview was taken with two co-wives living in Australia. The first wife, Khadijah (not her real name), has three children and the second wife, Amina (not her real name), was single with six children when she married into this situation. Khadijah and Amina knew each other for a long time before the second marriage. “I have always admired her,” said Khadijah. Khadijah’s family roots are in South Africa, but she said, “Culturally speaking, I’m Australian.” The husband is Algerian, and Amina is a revert to Islam and an Australian. Khadijah and Amina agree that there are a number of polygynous marriages that are not successful. However, both wives

With the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy “Who is he that will lend to Allah a goodly loan so that He may multiply it to him many times? And it is Allah that decreases or increases (your provisions), and unto Him you shall return”. (Al-Baqarah, 2:245) Narrated Abu Musa (radhi-allaahu ‘anhu): The Prophet (sallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “A faithful believer to a faithful believer is like the bricks of a wall, enforcing each other.” While saying that the Prophet (sallahu alayhi wa sallam) clasped his hands, by interlacing his fingers.  (Bukhaari vol. 1, hadith # 468) The first advice that I was given thirteen