All Kinds of Information for Sisters

Anti-Hijab Discrimination - A collection of links I have made to articles and resources about anti-hijab discrimination; includes a message to non-Muslims

Can Women Cut Their Hair? - One group of Muslim scholars asserts that women are not allowed to cut their hair AT ALL (see Women Cutting Their Hair), and many sisters ask about this. The linked article is a response to this claim, based on Quran and Sunna

Can a Menstruating Woman Recite from or Touch the Quran? - The traditional opinion is that she can't do either. Here is an examination of whether the Quran and Sunna really demand this

Can a Woman Lead Other Women in Salat? - What are the rules for a female imam leading other women in salat?

Deter Rape - Simple yet effective tips for sisters to protect themselves; links to other resources

Hijab Exchange - Have some spare hijabs or ones you don't wear anymore? Why not donate them to sisters in need? A simple and beautiful way to give sadaqa

Hijab Poems - A collection of links to inspirational poems about hijab

Hijab Stories - Read the stories of other Muslimahs about how they came to wear hijab

Hijab is Beautiful - A photo gallery of hijabi sisters. Mashallah!

Hijab: This Is My Struggle - A great article about young Muslimahs who choose hijab

How to Hijab - So you've read a gazillion articles about why to wear hijab and you're ready to start - but you don't know how. This is the page for you! It tells you what styles are available, what fabrics are best, how to fasten it to stay on your head, how to care for it, and much more

Islamic Perspectives on Obstetrics and Gynecology - Reproductive and childcare issues from the Islamic viewpoint; useful and important information for Muslim women

Join QuranClub! - QuranClub is an online sisters halaqa (study group) for the purpose of learning to memorize the Quran, inshallah. Follow this link to learn more and to subscribe!

Marriage, Family and Women Articles - A collection of links to articles about various issues related to marriage, family, and women in Islam

Me and My Hijab - A beautiful poem about hijab

Men and Women in the Quran - English translation of the meanings of the ayat that proclaim the equality of men and women in Islam

Modern Muslima - An excellent site with lots of information and resources for sisters especially new Muslimahs

Muslim Mama's Resources - Tips and advice for Muslim mothers

Muslim Moms' Resource Center - Are you a new mother? Need some tips on Islamic motherhood? Check out this website for more information and encouragement

Muslim Women and Sport - Participating in athletic activities is good for women, but how can the Islamic rules of modesty be maintained? This article presents some answers. Note: Many scholars consider it halal for a sister to take off her hijab around non-Muslim women, although this article says otherwise. See the link in common questions about hijab below

Muslimah's Cosmetics - A poem that is a nice reminder for Muslim sisters

Niqab Page - Information and resources about niqab and niqabis

Online Hijab Stores - Links to online stores selling hijab

Patterns for Islamic Clothing - Want to sew your own khimar, abaya, or niqab? Try these patterns. I have made the over-the-shoulder abaya (with minor modifications) and I love it!

Sisterhood - How to be good to your sisters-in-Islam

Sisters' Role in Jihad - What can sisters do to support the Islamic struggle?

The Salaat of Women - Some hadiths and rules regarding how and where women should offer salat. Note: A number of scholars do in fact consider it acceptable for a woman to offer salat in congregation if she does not have greater responsbilities at home, although this article says otherwise. See my links below on women going to the masjid

The Social Degradation of Women is a Crime and a Libel on Islam - An article written in 1927 by the British convert Mohammad Marmaduke Pickthall (who completed a translation of the Quran into English), which discusses why the total seclusion of women and the preventing them from obtaining an education is contrary to Islamic teachings. Pickthall might just as well have written this article today instead of 75 years ago!

The Veil in Christianity - One of my own articles; Muslim women aren't the only ones who are commanded to cover their hair!!

Two Rare Women - About the first Muslim, Khadijah (rAa) the wife of the Prophet (sAas), and the first martyr in Islam, Sumayya (rAa)

Veil Survey for Female Reverts to Islam - Many people in the West believe that women only convert to Islam because they want to marry a Muslim man, and that Muslim women only cover because they are forced to. This survey aims, inshallah, to provide statistical proof that neither of these is true

What is There for Women in Paradise? - Quranic ayat and hadiths discussing women's equal reward for equal deeds

Answers to some common questions about hijab:

• Do I Need to Wear Hijab in Front of Non-Muslim Women? - The concern is whether they will gossip about what they see; read it to learn more
• Going to See the Doctor - Is it halal to uncover parts of the body while seeking medical treatment? What if a female Muslim doctor is not available; what is the best alternative?
• Gold Jewelry for Women - Is gold jewelry halal for women - or haram? Here the opinions on both sides of the issue are discussed so that sisters can make their own decision what is most correct
• What Can a Prospective Husband See Before Marriage? - A discussion of the different opinions; the consensus is that he can only see the face and hands
• What If My Husband Wants His Family to Live with Us? - Most of the husband's relatives are NOT mahrams; is there an alternative to wearing hijab all the time around the house?

Articles I've written on women in Islam. These are aimed at non-Muslims, but might be useful to new Muslimahs:

• Marriage Dynamics in Islam - Why the husband has leadership and what this means
• On Veiling... - The social context of hijab, veiling as an act of worship, the question of hijab and choice

Da'wah in favor of hijab (some articles I've written):

• "Why Should I Wear Hijab?" - Don't wear hijab and aren't sure you want to? This article is for you
• Tips for Beginning to Wear Hijab - Do want to wear hijab, but are hesitant to? This is your article

Inspirational stories about Muslim women in history:

• Aisha Umm al-Muminin, Scholar - Profile of the wife of the Prophet (sAas) who was one of the greatest scholars of the first generation of Muslims
• Nusayba Umm Umara - Another profile of the woman who saved the life of the Prophet (sAas) in battle
• Nusayba, Warrior - Profile of the woman who saved the life of the Prophet (sAas) in battle
• Sumayya, Martyr - Profile of the first martyr in Islam

Special Focus on Polygyny:

• Awakening: A Story of Polygyny - A personal story about polygyny
• Lamentations of a Muslim Wife - Foolishness of Muslim women who reject polygyny
• Never Say Never: A Story of Polygyny - A personal story about becoming a second wife
• Polygyny in Christianity - Is polygyny part of Christianity as well as Islam?
• Polygyny: A Blessing in Disguise - Why Muslims need to accept polygyny as part of the way that Allah SWT has decreed for us
• The First Wife - A personal story by a woman whose husband took a second wife
• The Prophet's Plural Marriages - The ideal of the Islamic plural marriage
• The Second Wife - Why having a second wife is halal for a Muslim man
• What Polygyny Has Given Me - A daughter's story about her mother's marriage

Women and the masjid:

• Challenges of Women's Space in American Masjids - Discusses the issues facing American Muslims in winning more rights for sisters in the masjid, and how to overcome them
• Did the Caliph Umar (rAa) Ban Women From the Masjid? - Refutes a specific claim that is sometimes made to justify banning women
• Does Islam Discourage Women from the Masjid? - The answer to this question is a resounding "no"!
• Should Women Be Behind A Partition in the Masjid? - Argues that this is not the Sunna and may even be a bid'a

Women's Rights in Islam (some classic articles):

• Gender Equity in Islam - A detailed examination by brother Jamal Badawi of woman's role in Islam
• Ideals and Role Models for Women in Islam - Looks at the examples provided in the Quran and hadiths for women's rights
• On the Position of Women in Islam and Islamic Society - Classic article written by brother Hasan Turabi, showing the equity of men and women in early Islam
• Status of Women in Islam - Looks at women's rights in Islam and how they compare to European history
• Women in a Quranic Society - A comprehensive study of what the Quran has to say about woman's nature and role

SPECIAL SECTION: Common Sense about Hijab

Is Niqab Fard?

Niqab is part of Islam, it is mustahabb, and it is SUNNA, but those who say that it is required of all sisters are adding an obligation to the religion that Allah SWT and His Messenger did not. Here are some articles that explain more. Note: See my Niqab Page for more information about niqab

• A Study of Surah an-Nur ayah 31 - Part one of a two-part series I wrote on why it is halal for women to display their faces and hands
• Examining the Dalils for Niqab - One of my own articles; it shows that the dalils presented to claim niqab is fard are not as compelling as they appear at first
• It Is Not Obligatory for the Muslim Woman to Cover Her Face - This article particularly focuses on refuting arguments that niqab is commanded by the Quran
• More Perspectives on Why Niqab Is Not Fard - Arabic-speaking sisters discuss the interpretation of certain Quranic ayat and hadiths and show that these do not command or obligate niqab
• Niqab Is Not Required in the Islamic Law - Opinions of Sahaba and Tabi'un (rAa) in favor of displaying the face and hands, other dalils
• The Face Veil Is Not Obligatory - Shaykh Muhammad Nasiruddin Albani explains why niqab is mustahabb but not fard
• What is the Final Rule on Hijab? - Part two of a two-part series I wrote on why it is halal for women to display their faces and hands
• Why I Wear Hijab Not Niqaab - Sister Tara shares her own research why niqab is mustahabb but not fard

Is a Woman's Voice Awra?

Some people also say that a woman's voice is awra and must never be heard by non-mahram men except in emergencies! Does Islam really demand this? Here are some articles that show why it does not.

• A Woman's Voice in Islam - Shaykh Yusuf Qaradawi cites examples from the Quran and Sunna to show that women may speak to non-mahram men in the course of their duties
• Forbidding Women's Voices is a False Rumor - Some examples of women's speech with non-mahram men in the Quran and hadiths
• The Voice of a Woman - One of my own articles; an examination of the dalils presented to claim the woman's voice is awra, and dalils that prove it is not

Women do have to be careful that their speech is not alluring, and both men and women should avoid conversations beyond what is necessary to complete their business if they are not mahrams. But that is a far different thing from saying that the woman's voice is "awra". Here are some real guidelines about women's speech:

• Guidelines for Speaking to Non-Mahrams - Rules that should be followed
• Is a Woman's Voice Awra? - Explains briefly why a woman's voice is not awra

Is Hijab Optional?

Meanwhile, other Muslims are trying to claim that it is not actually necessary for the Muslim sister to cover her hair! Here are some responses to this.

• A series of questions posed about covering the hair:
  • Is It Obligatory for Women to Cover Their Heads? - The first response; a look at Surah an-Nur ayah 31 and Surah al-Ahzab ayah 59
  • More on Covering the Head - The second response; a discussion of the meaning of the word khimar in classical Arabic
  • Is It Obligatory for Women to Cover Their Heads? (2) - The third response; context of hijab in the social directives of Islam
  • More on Covering Head (2) - The fourth response; how did the pre-Islamic Arab women dress and what does Surah an-Nur ayah 31 tell them to do with this?
  • More on Covering Head (3) - The fifth response; re-iteration of historical background of Surah an-Nur ayah 31
• Special Focus on Hijab - A section from my article on the necessity of following the Sunna, which explains why it is fard to cover the hair

Is the Jilbab Optional?

And then there are those who say that the jilbab is not fard... Here is my response to this

• Evidences for Jilbab - One of my own articles; it contains dalils from the Quran, the Sunna, and the opinions of scholars (linked) all of which show that wearing a jilbab is fard