If you're a woman and you want to pursue a degree in Islamic studies, DO IT.

If you're a woman and you want to pursue a degree in Islamic studies, do it. Yes, DO IT. 

There is an urgent need for women scholars and it’s very serious. Something that many Muslim women are struggling with is finding themselves, their status and their worth in the deen of Islam. The amount of times I was close to leaving Islam because of the ignorance of a few speakers when lecturing about women. This struggle exists because unfortunately there are traditions among Islamic thinkers that have distorted Islamic teachings pertaining to women... and has been further affected by cultural thought, for example, the literalist and cultural traditions that don’t look at women’s issues holistically. According to both traditions, the Quran views men as superior over women, that it is haram for a woman to work, women must stay confined in their homes at all times and that wife-beating can even be permissible. These are the products of looking at Islamic texts literally and devoiding it from its historical & cultural context they were revealed in. From my opinion, this is actually dangerous e.g. verse 2:228 in the Quran: 

“And they (women) have rights (over their husbands as regards living expenses) similar (to those of their husbands) over them (as regards obedience and respect) to what is reasonable, but men have a degree over them. And Allaah is All-Mighty, All-Wise”- [al-Baqarah 2:228] 

From a literal point of view, you could understand this verse to mean that men are superior over women and that this belief is legitimate within Islam. But when you look at the Arabic, context and the tafseer (explanation) you will find it implies something totally different. The commentators of the Quran in the earlier Islamic period such as Ibn Hajar and Ibn Katheer never understood this to mean absolute superiority over women. Rather the correct meaning implied is that men have a degree of RESPONSIBILITY over the women. That they “are the protectors and maintainers of women”. Other verses that have been interpreted literally to justify wife beating & the confinement of women in the home when it is IN FACT contradictory to the Sunnah (Prophetic tradition): 

1) The prophet (PBUH) never laid a finger on his wives except with gentleness, and he advised his companions to do likewise. In one hadith he expressed his extreme repulsion from this behavior and said: "How does anyone of you beat his wife as he beats the stallion camel and then embrace (sleep with) her?” (Al-Bukhari, English Translation, vol. 8, Hadith 68, pp. 42-43)

2) He never forbade Khadija (RA) from continuing with her business dealings. A woman even came to him for advice on trade: A companion named Qaila said to the Prophet: "I am a woman who buys and sells things (in other words, a trader)." Then she asked him several questions about buying and selling (Ibn Sa'd, Tabaqat, Vol. 8, p.228) [Afzal: p. 69]
Referring to a second woman: It is reported about Shifa' Bint Abdullah: "Umar often entrusted her with market responsibilities (i.e., as a market inspector) Al--Isti'ab fi Asma' al-Ashab by Jalal U. Ansar Umri. [Afzal: p.86]

Referring to a third woman: Ibn Abd al-Barr, Al--Isti'ab fi Asma' al-Ashab: writes about Samra Bint Nuhaik, "She commanded good and forbade evil while going around in the markets. She had a whip in her hand with which she punished those who committed any evil or vice (Munkar). [Afzal: p.77]

3) Also he was the one who supported Aisha (RA) through her struggle to becoming a teacher, a scholar and a political activist who was very much engaged with her society. Many of us overlook the fact that she was even a narrator of hadith. 

So we can now see how some literalist & cultural traditions can produce conclusions that are INCOMPATIBLE with Islam. 

On top of that, this tradition has resulted in limiting the role of women to merely a wife and a mother, nothing more. Although these are VERY important roles, it's not right to limit a woman's purpose in Islam to just those, and not encourage her to exercise her talents & intellect within the limits of halal. The mothers of the believers were not just mothers and wives as they had a very active role in society, but they did so in a way that it wouldn’t interfere with their roles as mothers and wives. 

It was the combination of the efforts of both Muslim men and women that allowed their Islamic communities to flourish in Arabia, Persia and North Africa. In the 9th century Fatima Al-Fihri opened up the University of Qarawiyyin in Morocco and was also the founder of the world's first academic degree-granting institution of higher education. I know Islamic Societies in universities that would not have survived if it wasn’t for their women’s participation. And this could not have been achieved if these women were confined to their home. If we women were to do so, then who would be doing dawah to other women and younger Muslim girls? If men were to do it, that would fall under free-mixing. It is a fact that Muslim girls are lacking of good adult influence. And sadly not all Muslim girls can look to their families for that. One Muslim woman who won’t be named even complained that girls are not practicing Islam because they feel it’s not applicable to them. So please, don’t tell me that the literalist & cultural view of women in Islam is the correct approach.

Additionally there is a double standard, Why is it that when a white revert female is on the forefront of dawah, we praise her, but when a Muslim woman who comes from our Middle Eastern, Asian and Somali backgrounds, we discourage her? 

When women are not given their rightful place in Islam, it is half of the Ummah who are being deprived. Like a plane with only one wing, it will fly forward a little bit, but eventually it will return in a circle and land back at square one. This is how I view a society that doesn’t do justice to the other sex. I can think of communities who largely take on the literal & cultural tradition and they aren’t progressing anywhere.The real practice of Islamic studies requires intense intellectual effort & excellence; memorization, language ability, historical knowledge & understanding, sociology, law, philosophy etc. Scholars are trained to disassociate themselves from their whims and cultural assumptions so they can understand Islam the way it would be understood rather than through the lens of their whims and cultural traditions. Now you can see why scholars are known as the inheritors of knowledge. So to look at the Islamic teaching in a literalist & cultural perspective severely undermines that. But people do it anyway, because it’s easy and doesn’t require as much intellectual effort- as stated by Tareq Ramadan. 

Lastly, we’re in a crisis; When there are shariah councils in the UK are turning Muslim women away who are suffering from domestic abuse, it’s no small matter. Islamic law says that a woman who is being abused by her husband has the right to dissolve her marriage and even choose to bring forth consequences. So where is this knowledge today? Us Muslim women, really, we share the blame for not taking the initiative to study women’s rights, femininity, and what it means to be a woman in the light of Islam. So yes, we need more female scholars side by side with our male scholars. In the early centuries of Islam there were no less than 8000 Muslim women scholars. Such vast numbers truly testify to the huge role that women have played in the preservation and development of Islamic learning since the time of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). So please, any one of you women who want to pursue Islamic studies. Do it. May Allah make it easy for you. 

This is not ‘Islamic feminism’, this is simply just Islam. 

“"Whoever is met by death while he is seeking knowledge to revive Islam, then between him and the Prophets will be only one degree in Paradise."- Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) Sunnan Al-Darimi

A confession

After a long moment of reflection. I don't care of reputation, i don't care of opinions, pride, image, wealth, possessions, impressing others because they really amount to nothing if I haven't pleased the one above. They don't bring me happiness and contentment, only a superficial feeling which i mistook for happiness. Paraphrasing the Quran: This world is only a moment of amusement and sweet deception, and the next life is better for you and so are your enduring good deeds. All these things that I stated won't last. I will never be able to capture them, but they will follow me and they will tease me. The only things that will last are the good deeds that are treasured by Allah. I'm not trying to be cheesy and philosophical here. The more you understand this the happier you will become.

By grounding your heart in this dunya, investing in it emotionally and mentally, then you are only setting yourself up for loss, and possibly insanity. Because your conscience and your heart doesn't rest if it is placed on things that are finite. But by placing your heart in the one who does not perish (SWT), then you are safe. This is one major difference between the one who believes in the Akhirah and the one who doesn't. 

"There was a time where you were on the brink of destruction..."

Enhance the good in people. 

I remember in the past I came across a someone at Uni who shared his anti-Arab sentiment with me. He's a student like myself. The stuff that he was coming up with was exactly the kind of information you would find in colonialist literature; portraying us as if we were warmongering people who had 10 wives stealing peoples riches on our conquests. I was FUMING for days afterwards that I had even complained to people about him! The same anger arisen when arguing with someone on the Woolwich incident. It was a really heated moment. Then a friend kindly pointed out to 'advise with hikmah' i.e. advise in a patient manner and with wisdom. There was a great lesson to learn from what she advised me. 

Going back to the first person, I realized i was so focused on that one bad aspect of him that i totally disregarded everything else. He was an intelligent historian, he was on the deen, he was sociable and would do favors for others without asking. Such a shame that he held such prejudiced sentiments- but that could have been fixed. If I had advised this brother in a proper manner, then there was a possibility that he would have abandoned such beliefs and become a better person. Instead I disregarded him altogether along with the good qualities he had in a moment of blind anger. 

There was once a time when we all were worse off, but then someone had the patience and the faith in us to advise us to take the higher route. We didn't develop into better people on our own, we had some form of help and advice along the way from someone who overlooked OUR faults and believed in us! As Saudi Sheikh Muhammed Al-Arayfi said; "Perhaps there is 90% bad [in a person] and there is 10% good. So expand this 10% and treat it as 50%. Don't say [to such a person] that you are a sinner/transgressor. Because that will decrease the 10%. Consider the good to be more. Perhaps Allah shall rectify this person at your hands."

See full video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38bUWI_7rGQ

What does a MUSLIM think about the Knife Attack of the Soldier that Happened in Woolwich?

EDIT: It hasn't been confirmed as to whether the criminal was a Muslim or not. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions. But in the case if it is... please read on. 

Here's what Islam says about the beheading that happened in London by the two 'Muslim' men:

"That if anyone killed a person not in retaliation of murder, or to spread corruption in the land – it would be as if he killed all mankind, and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind."- Quran 5:32 

“Whoever kills a mu‘aahid (a non-Muslim living under Muslim rule) will not smell the fragrance of Paradise, although its fragrance may be detected from a distance of forty years.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 2995 (let alone a non Muslims living in his own land!)

Words cannot express how frustrated I am. A couple of pseudo-mujahideen thinking they would have the glory of martyrdom by BEHEADING A MAN ON THE STREETS OF LONDON and shouting 'Allahu akbar' when doing so. This is not jihad, this is barbaric mindlessness! And WE as British Muslims are left to pick up the pieces.

What fate have they left for us British Muslims?

So many British Muslims will suffer as a result; whether it be physical attacks, racial profiling of Muslim men, unemployment, Muslim mothers, women and children being taunted on the street, hijabs being ripped off or reactionary laws against us. I hope it goes all on their record on Qiyamah. And as for those who are discriminating against us Muslims, it's obvious that most 2.8 million of us are not like this. So be quiet. Of course there is a bias in the discourse of the media. But nevertheless what happened was completely against Islam as I have shown above.

You know, this ayah (verse of the Quran) comes to mind when thinking about what the fate of these mindless men could be. I do believe that there were attempts by Imams, parents and other fellow Muslims who tried to talk them out of their extremism:

"They will further say: "Had we only listened or used our intelligence, we would have not been among the inmates of the blazing fire." (Quran 67:10)


EDIT No2: It hasnt even been a day and already Mosques are getting attacked. As British citizens we have to unite against extremism as well as bigotry. These two groups have so much in common.

A key to happiness that you must take from this article....

Happiness is not living a problem-free life. That is an unrealistic definition and by all means impossible. Because none of us will EVER be problem free in this inherently imperfect world. Happiness is learning to be content with yourself whilst persevering through the troubles you have, and to continuously focus on the other positive aspects of life.

I want to make it clear that I am NOT referring to clinical depression here. Clinical depression is more complex and severe and deserves professional attention. Clinical depression can have a number of causes ranging from neurological to hormonal to situational. The depression I am referring to in this post is the normal 'rainy day blues' that happens every now and again with all people. 

Just speaking out of honesty, whenever we have one of those days where we feel depressed but we can't pinpoint the reason, or maybe we can, but they're things that can be fixed. A lot of the time (but not all the time), all it takes is to challenge our own depressive thoughts in order for our blues to go away. For example:
'why do you feel like this?'
'why is this an issue?- is it really an issue?'
'okay, so it's an issue. but surely it can be fixed?'
'and if it can't be fixed easily, will it be worth it to make the effort to fix it?'
'If it cant be fixed at all, maybe I should learn to adapt?'

Either way, if you took the time to challenge these thoughts most of the time you will end up with answers along the lines of 'fix it and be happy' or 'adapt to it and be happy'. It won't be direct as I make it in the above example; of course mental endurance, patience & knowledge are needed to overcome a problem. But it is possible.

I notice that as people, we're very passive when it comes to attaining happiness. We're very much dominated by our environment. We underestimate our ability in changing our situations, or changing our attitude to adapt to a situation. We should be more assertive in our thinking and be aware of our own thought processes (meta-cognition). Really, speaking from experience, it does wonders in letting go of a lot of the emotional baggage. 

Deceptive tactics when doing Dawah.... Is it justified?

I've noticed that there are some people who use deceptive tactics on others to make them do good acts or even when doing Dawah. Whether this be in the form of scaring them with made up stories about a person who went to jahannam or even untrue stories about dreams of the Prophet (PBUH) and his 'message for humanity'. Then afterwards these untruths would circulate rapidly between people through text messages and Facebook shares; automatically most of us believe in it because it 'apparently' looks like it 'could' be from hadith. But we simply accept it because on the outset it looks Islamic. Wrong approach. We should always look to verify whatever information that comes our way. If you pass on information that turns out to be untrue, you will have a share in the responsibility as well.

This 'deceptive tactic' is done because apparently the ends justify the means. However, when it comes to a lie like this, something haraam, the ends will never be justified... and might even have a consequence. I've never seen this done by Islamic authority or any imams, if anything this happens most with us normal, untrained, laymen people. And the laymen who do this seem to not trust their recipient to use their own minds when deciding between good and bad. Even though Allah clearly tells us in this verse that truth is clearly distinct from error (if one uses their intellect):

"There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Tâghût and believes in God (ar. Allah), then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And God is All-Hearer, All-Knower."- Quran 2:256

Seriously, how can you consider it wholesome for a person to do good deeds when it was motivated by something that's a lie.

...

Don't you hate it when you see your friends emotionally trapped in a relationship that's going nowhere or even unhealthy for them. You can say all the words and advice that you can offer, but so long as they have an attachment to their partner, your endeavor only has a very limited impact. Love & attachment can creep up on a person without them realizing. And when they do realize it, they're already attached. It's like the only time they realize they got too close to the fire is when they get burnt. This is why I take male-female interaction seriously. May Allah give us Halal life partners who will be there to catch us when we fall for them.

Can You Really 'Have it All'?

"What is destined will reach you, even if it be underneath two mountains. What is not destined, will not reach you, even if it be between your two lips!"- Arabic Proverb

If you want to 'have it all' then you need to give it your all. 'Having it all' is a privilege  not a right. Therefore you need to exert your effort. However, this perspective is a very secular way of looking at it. From an Islamic perspective there is an all-determining factor....

You might endeavor on something, but at the end of the day, Allah will only give you if it is safe for you to have it. And if there is a purpose you can fulfill if it is granted to you. So yes, even if you worked so hard for it, you still might not get it, because it is not safe for you as it might corrupt you OR because your work was grounded in insincere intentions... or may be because there is a better plan for you in store. 

One way find out whether that thing is for you or not before putting all that time and effort is to do istikhara. Istikhara is for ANY decision that you want to make. It's the most efficient method.

Words of Wisdom from Ali (R.A)

"Do not speak about your money in front of a poor person
Do not speak about your health in front of a sick person
Do not speak about your power in front of a weak person
Do not speak about your happiness in front of a sad person
Do not speak about your freedom in front of a prisoner
Do not speak about your children in front of an infertile person
Do not speak about your father in front of an orphan
Because their wounds cannot bear more."

- Ali Ibn Abi Talib (R.A.)