I am a practicing corporate lawyer for now over 4 years. As of late I have, allhomdulillah, started to look to the Quran for guidance in all aspects of my life. Can someone tell me what the quran says about working women? i.e. is it forbidden or allowed under certain circumstances or otherwise.

Thanks

I heard a brother speaking about Iftikar - for christians, something similar to what’s termed a “shut-in,”  at the masjid.  Is this something you know muslimahs to participate in?  Under what conditions does this take place? —it was mentioned that there are certain days and a specific length of time that is sunnah for this “retreat”.  Anyone knowledgable, please share.

I have been dating a Muslim man for a little over 3 years now, I am of Christian faith, we do not have a problem with the differnt faiths. He had asked me to read the Quran last year right before Ramadan, I read the whole book and I fasted for the Ramadan. Anyways, we have been together a long time, I love him very much, will he ever ask for marriage?

I reckon I’m the newest (and youngest!) member of this cozy little corner, so I just wanted to say salaam to y’all…

About me:
A 15-going-on-16-in-20-something-days (lol ) Muslimah, living in Canada and doing my high school through homeschooling… my blog is Musings of a Muslim Mouse (at http://www.muslimmouse.blogspot.com) where I write about random things, usually issues of the Muslim community and what I think about them, as well as occasional thingies about the latest in Canadian politics…

Insha’Allah I look forward to getting to know you all!
Although, I won’t always be up to date on stuff because of school and whatnot, so yup…

Your little sister in Islam,
‘Mouse

reading Shazia’s love story touched a sensitive cord that gave me this ball in my throat…I’m in love with love and I happen to have a very romantic and funny love story for all of you…

You know, SophanAllah, I use to be very different from who I am today. I have been born and raised as a Muslim but never really got the religious education due to my mother who was very ill and my father who was too preoccupied and working long hours until late at night to make the family survive. I grew up never really knowing who was God and lived more or less as I pleased. I came across a friend who made me discover the presence of Allah but didn’t really find that he was an example to follow so I was still a bit reticent learning from him.

Now the love story…

That friend happened to have a friend who had lots of points in common with me…he studied in marketing, was Egyptian and Muslim like me and by the strangest of coincidences (as if it’s not enough already) both of our mothers passed away when we were 18 (he’s a year older than me, Allah Yerhamha she passed away in 99 and mine returned to God in the year 2000) In both of our numerologies, it happened when we were in a “9� (which means the end of a cycle, 1 the beginning of a new one). My friend told me that his friend’s birthday, Ashraff (even our names look alike, I’m Asmahan) was coming up and it would make him feel good to have me there as he was due to meet some nice ladies to talk to. I just broke off an engagement and I was up to my head about issues with men and just wanted to be single, free, and think about me and what I wanted. Like I almost jumped in his face, my friend told me not to worry, that he wasn’t trying to play matchmaker and that I’d feel good to see someone I can relate to.

I went to the birthday diner and as I expected, I didn’t like him at all at first. I found him too skinny and I actually felt that yes he was nice, but not my type of guy. A year went by and I followed my natural course of life and at that moment I started to discover more and more about Allah and accepted him in my life recodnising that I was nothing more but his creature and servant who’d do anything to please him. I discovered about his mercy and grace towards mankind and I started to ask him for the one thing that I have always wished for, my heart’s desire, the flame that burns within every single woman…

True love that is pure.

I was tired of having men see me as a beautiful trophy and really found them discusting in general. Men of my own religion and culture would have fun challenging me and pushing on my buttons as they saw that I was a women with a lot of character and those from Canada, well, I find that they have no values. I prayed for a year until one day…

My friend’s birthday came up! We all gathered to an Indian buffet with a whole bunch of friends and as we were all feasting and eating, that skinny guy that I didn’t like last year appeared around 8 pm while we were more or less done with eating. Something inside of me made me get up and my friend told me “Asmahan, I introduce you to Ashraff, you remember him� I didn’t even look at him and answered “ I know� greeting him like a guest of honor….don’t ask…I don’t even know what was going on. Next thing I know we were talking all the evening and we spent the whole night at a coffee shop in downtown Montreal that was open 24 hours. He talked to me about his business and I found it pretty appealing, obviously he was trying to recruit me but it was pretty easy as I was already interested in the field of finance and wanted to help people instead of putting them in debt like the rest of the industry. Morning came and he asked me if he can get me breakfast, it was not far from 9 am and I was still up, I wasn’t able to believe that I was up all night, and still in our evening clothing, people would look at us funny when we’d walk back to the train station laughing our heads off with dark circles around our eyes.

We talked thru out the week to confirm that we’d meet up at the train station so I can go the business overview with him and when we met, I gave him a huge hug…I even surprised myself. I loved so much who he was and his respect for me was huge. He had such strong faith in Allah and was so pure that I adored talking to him and felt taken back to my Muslim roots the moment he started to talk about his knowledge of the Quran and the prophet Sayedna Mohammed (peace be upon him). At the meeting we sat with a chair between us, I got up and got closer….it’s a small silly detail that I’m telling you but it was too funny at the time because I had no idea of what was going on with me. The meeting went by fast and I wanted to have our long talk as I enjoyed so much his company. We went out for a Shisha and time once again, flew right by us and I just wanted to talk more but the last train time was approaching. I asked him if he wants, I have a big apartment and he can come over and we can do like last time and talk all evening. I saw that he didn’t feel out of ease but my invitation was so innocent that I didn’t see any wrong in him coming over. He accepted my invitation and we both talked until we passed out in sleep.

The next morning I wake up, it’s October 6th 2005 and It’s the day of my birthday. I have turned 24 and he was the first person to tell me. We woke up and chatted a bit and as he was by the door….he looked like as if he wanted to tell me something but didn’t know how. He took a deep breath and told me that he loved me. I was standing there (with my hair all messed up, my morning breath and crusty eyes) with my mouth unable to speak but with my heart telling me to go for it. I didn’t have the time to answer and I guess that he took my time of reflection negatively so he told me that he had nothing else to say and left.

I was going towards my desk and found his set of keys.

Guess what Asmahan did…

Yes she ran down the street with her ShibShibs and messed up hair, morning breath and crusty eyes with down the street to the train station with his keys. I got there panting and the second I have put my hand on his shoulder to give him his keys he was lifting a payphone to call me to say that he forgot his keys.  I told him in those exact words “You can’t tell me that you love me then leave like that….we must talkâ€?

I grabbed him by the waist and took his hand around my shoulders and sat with him outside (I’m still with the whole crusty eye and messed up hair situation over here girls, lol) I asked him if I can go with him to the west island as I have never visited and wanted to spend the day of my birthday with him. He gladly accepted.

Since that day we have been inseperable. I have introduced him to my father as a friend who knows how to repair computers as my pa’ always had the habit to click wherever on the net it would say “Click here�. My father loved him and was insinuating that I should be with him without being too direct because he knew my character and didn’t find that it would be a good idea to suggest anything.

We announced to my father (by coincidence, it just happened like that, the day that my mother died…March 27th..Allah yerhamhah…)  that we’d get married and I still see my father, his hand shaking and tears of joy in his eyes, his voice trembling of how happy he was….it was such a blessing from God…Alhamdoullellah… and we got married (once again…very odd… we were trying to find a date that would be convenient for everyone and it happened to be on the 9th of April…the day that his mother passed away… may God bless her soul)

It was the first year I got no material gift, not even from my father but I got my soul mate for my birthday. Ashraff was sent to me by Allah and I got the biggest gift of them all, true love that is pure, what I have asked for and not from anyone… but from the Merciful one, El Woudoude, El Karim….Allah Sophanata3ala….

After all that I have done, God still had mercy for me and loved me. I now learn more and more about the Quran, I pray five times a day and I feel closer to God. I have a much cleaner tongue, I don’t gossip like I use to….God made me a calmer, more secure person and above and everything a wife and future mother. My heart trembles whenever I say my story because it’s truly a blessing when I think about it. I know that It was long but I sure hope that you ladies enjoyed reading it.

May Allah bless all of your hearts and souls..

With love of love, hugs and kisses,

Asmahan Nour

I

they are collecting signatures to present at the court on Tuesday inshaAllah..

jazakAllah kheir.
suhaa

“We need to get past draconian ideas that the ‘clothes’ make the woman…that ‘her provocative dress made me do it’ excuse that is seen in court cases and the basis for many misogynistic religions or female oppressive societies.”

Now, she is a nice person, and I have communicated with her via email, and I do like her, so this is not intended as an offense.

But I could not help but feel like she was possibly talking about Islam here, you know, with the whole “women are like meat” fiasco!

Obviously we know that Islam is not a misogynistic religion, and obviously a lot of people believe otherwise. But this is one of the reasons that Nisaa was created… to share opinions of ‘real’ Muslim women!!

So, that said… I do wear hijab. I started almost 5 years ago, and I was supported by my co-workers and friends. I never felt oppressed. I was never forced into it. I wear it only for the possibility that I am pleasing God, and not to please any Man, and certainly not because I think not wearing it gives men an excuse to violate me.

I dress modestly because it is required in Islam, and commanded by God, so as a Muslim, I do dress in a modest manner… and so does my husband, because MEN are also required to cover themselves.

It is sad that the general opinion is that Islam is a misogynistic religion, but we can only change that opinion by example and by education…

Any thoughts?

Let us unite in Duaa for Imam Masood and
for all the oppressed. May Allah punish
the oppressors and show no mercy upon them.

you can read more about this on my current
post..
http://stanceofamuslimah.blogspot.com

and below, right here:
ALERT: UPDATE ON INTIMIDATION AND ARREST OF IMAMS OF ICNE AND ISGL

MAS Boston Freedom Foundation
Islam Center of New England – http://www.icne.net

Update on Intimidation and Arrest of Imams of ICNE and ISGL

Imam Masood (Islamic Center of New England, Sharon), his son (Hassan) and Imam Abdul Hannan (Islamic Center of Greater Lowell) were arrested by immigration officials Wednesday on alleged immigration violations

No criminal charges have been brought even though it was claimed that this was related to an immigration fraud ring around the Northeast. But at most, Imam Masood has been charged with a minor administrative technicality.

MAS Boston and ICNE leaders have been speaking to the lawyer, and the families to provide much needed support.

Press releases have been sent (see http://www.masboston. org). MAS Boston has provided interviews with NPR, the Boston Globe, and local media to present the strong Muslim community support for their leaders and their outrage over their treatment.

MAS Boston leaders met with Immigration officials, officials from the Attorney General’s office, the FBI, and other law enforcement officials to strongly express the community’s outrage and support for their leaders - demanding that they allow the Imams to post bail, that they give them access to proper Muslim food and prayer facilities, and that they resolve this in a speedy manner to avoid further aggravating a very frustrated Muslim community.

Immigration officials came in large numbers to this meeting and resolved to work to accommodate these demands

Immigration officials agreed to arrange for MAS Boston President,
Masjid/board representative, and a few family members to visit the Imams
today to ensure that they are in safe and appropriate conditions.

Check http://www.masboston. org frequently for more detailed information, recent news articles, and more on what you can do to help.

ACTION REQUESTED

1. Pray for the safe and speedy release of both Imams.

2. Contact your local representative and MA Senators, (a) to inform them of the situation, (b) ask them to help ensure the fair, speedy, and respectable treatment of the Imams.

Senator Edward Kennedy (617)565 3170
Request to speak to Tom Cohan, (ext. 119)

Senator John Kerry (617) 565-8519
Request to speak to Carmen Velazquez

3. Plan to come out in a show of support for the imams on the hearing at the JFK Building on the third floor on Tuesday 8:30 AM. The more people that come, the stronger the message to officials that Muslims will not sit idly by and accept intimidation. More details of this will be sent soon.

Please help MAS Freedom to continue to defend and empower our community. Your contributions will allow us to help the families, pay for legal fees, and increase our ability to support the community. Your tax deductible donations can be mailed to MAS Boston, 1 Broadway, Third Floor, Cambridge, MA 02142 OR given online at
http://www.masboston. org

pleaseee do whatever you can. Imam Masood
is a humble, pious and knowledgable man we need
in this community..he is a dedicated father,
teacher, and mentor. He is innocent..
the land of the free they call? well whatever
happened to “innocent until proven guilty”

SubhanAllah…All affairs return to ALLAH..
suhaa

Enjoy!

And please post any feedback, comments, ideas, suggestions…

shazia.