The lioness of the tabieen, Hafsa ibn Seereen

"The era of the Tabi’een is often referred to as the golden age of the Islamic Sciences – a time during which scholars studied at the feet of the Sahabah of RasulAllah (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), traveled the world in search of ahadeeth, and began to compile what are now known to be the greatest books of classical Islamic knowledge.

Out of the many famous male tabieen like malik ibn anas, or Urwa ibn Zubair a female ta’biee sticks out: Hafsa bint Seereen.

Hafsa was the daughter of Anas ibn Maalik (radhiAllahu ‘anhu), and Safiyyah (R.). Due to her parents’ proximity to the Sahabah, Hafsa and her numerous siblings were raised in a household that was permeated with knowledge. Hafsa and her sister Kareemah were both known for memorizing the Qur’an at a young age; Kareemah at the age of nine, and Hafsa at twelve.
Though it is her brother Muhammad ibn Seereen who is better known today, in particular for his book on dream interpretation, it was Hafsa who was respected most highly in her time.

Living up to her namesake, Hafsa was a lioness amongst the scholars of Madinah. Hafsa was a qaari’ah (reciter of the Qur’an) and was well-versed in the various recitations of the Qur’an; she was a muhaddithah (narrator of ahadeeth); and she was a faqeehah (Islamic jurist) as well.
To be a scholar in any one of these fields was and is considered to be a major achievement; in Hafsa’s case, she excelled in all three.

Her knowledge and expertise was not limited to a select circle, or restricted only to women. The men of Iraq, scholars in their own right, publicly acknowledged Hafsa’s superiority.

Iyaas ibn Mu’awiyyah said:
‘I did not meet anyone whom I can prefer over Hafsah.’ He was asked: ‘What about Hasan al Basri and Muhammad ibn Sireen (her brother)?’ He said: ‘As for me, I do not prefer anyone over her. She learnt the Qur’aan by heart when she was twelve years old.’ (Al Mizzi, Tahdheeb al-Kamaal, xxxv. 152.)

Hishaam ibnu Hassaan said:
“I saw Al-Hasan (Hasan al Basri), and (Muhammad) ibnu Seereen, and I did not see anyone whom I thought was cleverer than Hafsah.” (Sifah As-Safwah, Dhikr Al Mustafiyaat min A’abidaat al Basrah, Vol 2, Page 709.)

Hishaam narrates that when Ibn Sireen (her brother) would find something difficult and ambiguous (ashkala ‘alayhi) regarding the Qiraa’ah (recitation), he would say, “Go and ask Hafsah how to recite.” (Sifah As-Safwah, Dhikr Al Mustafiyaat min ‘Aabidaat al Basrah.)

As a muhaddithah, Hafsa’s chains of narration were both short and strong, which resulted in her narrations being included in all six authentic books of hadith (as-Sihaah as-Sitta).

the male scholars of Medina used to visit her in search of knowledge. She focused on the education of the youth and is famously recoded as saying:

'O youth (Ya Ma’shar ash-Shabaab)! Take from yourselves while you are young, for certainly I do not see (real) action except in youth.' (Sifah As-Safwah, Dhikr Al Mustafiyaat min 'Aabidaat al Basrah)

Hafsa was just one of many intelligent, educated women in Islamic history, but she is also one of the few who achieved mastery in fields which are now considered to be predominantly male. Her accomplishments prove that in the earlier generations of Islamic history, it was not gender which merited renown, but excellence of intellect combined with wisdom and worship.”

Allah Made Father As Wali (province) On His Daughter

Force not your daughters into marriage when they have desired independence, in order that you may make a gain in the goods of this worldly life. Surat An-Nūr (The Light), Ayat 33

Statistics have shown that a large majority of victims are Muslim. However, Islam teaches that consent from both man and woman is a must before a marriage can take place. The Qur'an states “O you who have believed, it is not lawful for you to inherit women by compulsion...” (4:19).

The Sahih al-Bukhari, one of the most revered sources of hadith (Islamic practice) amongst Islamic scholars, reports the Prophet Muhammed (Peace Be Upon Him) as saying: "The widow and the divorced woman shall not be married until her order is obtained, and the virgin girl shall not be married until her permission is obtained." (Bukhari, 67:42).

The next chapter of the Sahih al-Bukhari states: "When a man gives his daughter in marriage and she dislikes it, the marriage shall be repudiated" (Bukhari, 67:43), with further hadith providing examples of the Prophet Muhammed (Peace Be Upon Him) cancelling such marriages in which the daughter's consent was not sought.

It is not permissible for a guardian to be stubborn about the marriage of a female under his care, or to prevent her from marrying someone she wants to marry if he is compatible with her. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “If there comes to you one with whose religious commitment and character you are pleased, then marry (your female relative under your care) to him, for if you do not do that there will be fitnah (tribulation) in the land and much corruption.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi

you have the choice of whether to stay or not. Seek guidance from Allaah (by praying istikhaarah). If you agree to stay in this marriage then all well and good, but if you do not accept to stay with your husband, then you have the right to seek annulment of the marriage, because it took place without your consent.

It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) that a virgin girl came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and told him that her father had married her off against her objections. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) gave her the choice. Narrated by Abu Dawood, 2096

The majority of scholars are of the view that if a woman is married off without her consent, then the marriage contract is invalid, because it is a forbidden contract which cannot be validated. This is the view of the Shaafa’is and Hanbalis. The view of the Hanafis, which was also narrated in one report from Ahmad, is that the contract is dependent upon the woman’s acceptance. If she gives her consent then it is valid, otherwise she may annul it.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said, concerning the matter of a father forcing his daughter to marry: It is haraam for a man to force his daughter to marry a man whom she does not want to marry, and what is haraam cannot be validated or implemented, because implementing it or validating it goes against the prohibition that has been narrated.  When sharee’ah forbids a matter, then we should not be involved in it or do it. If we validate it, that means that we have becomes involved in it and done it, and we have made it equivalent to the contracts that are permitted in sharee’ah.

Based on this, the correct view is that the marriage arranged by the father to a man whom his daughter does not want as a husband is an invalid marriage, and the contract is invalid, and should be examined by the court.
See al-Fataawa, page 760


A forced marriage is not an issue of religion, but it is a cultural practice that violates your right as a woman and as a Muslim. The act of forcing someone to marry is in fact an act that is against the practices and teachings of Islam.
Yahya Al Noor

Rights Of Women In Islam حقوق المرأة في الإسلام

Inside of my mother’s womb

First time I start to breath my heart beats inside of you

First time I take my food it’s also inside of you

You carried me for nine months Inside your womb

We become one when our hearts beats together

For a short time you had my body inside of you

You carried my belly Inside your belly too.

And now, though I have your heart in my heart

I feel your soul Inside my soul

You and I connected with a cord 

When time I’m inside your womb

A special rope that bond us together

Love that we shared start on your womb

By Maryam Aguilar

Benefits Of Breast Feeding

The idea of using the bottle in place of breastfeeding would definitely be unusual eighty years ago! However, now women have to be persuaded away from using the bottle, and take to breast-feeding.

Factors such woman wanting to pursue their career shortly after giving birth; the onset of pain when feeding; or not having the confidence to preserver with breast-feeding have contributed to this decline.

Many Medical experts have always encouraged mothers to breast-feed. They have identified a whole host of benefits in terms of health, intelligence and emotional for both the mother and child.

Benefits to the Mother

• It’s convenient and cheaper for your budget.
• It helps you to loose excess weight.
• Suckling produces Oxytocin, which causes the womb to contract to its pre-birth size.
• The risk of producing breast cancer is reduced, which is further reduced for every child that is breast feed and the longer the period of breastfeeding.

Benefits to the Child

• Breast fed babies are at an advantage, since suckling strengthens their jaws and aids in their transition from milk to solids. It also aids in their speaking.
• Breast milk is healthier! Colostrum (the first type of milk produced by the breast) is packed with rich nutrients, protein and antibodies acting as a boost for the child’s underdeveloped immune system.
• Antibodies which formula milk is void of, offer protection from infections.
• Breast milk is higher in vitamin D and E and research has shown that breast milk is two and a half times more effective in preventing rickets.
• Breast milk contains more minerals; some of these are not found in formula milk, such as selenium and chromium. Selenium is an essential immune booster, whilst Chromium helps maintain a balance in the blood sugar levels. Minerals such as calcium, iron, zincand Manganese from breast milk are more absorbable than those in formula milk.
• Unlike formula milk, breast milk helps to establish healthy gut bacteria such as Bifido. These bacteria safeguard the baby’s digestive tract from harmful invading bacteria and inhibit the development of colic and eczema.
• obesity is less common in breast-fed babies compared to their formula fed counterparts.
• Breast milk makes brainier babies! Higher levels of the fat DHA, essential in developing the brain, are found in breast milk. Research has shown breast fed babies score 6-10 points higher in IQ tests than their formula fed counterparts.
  
  
  by Muhammad Yahya Mehmood (yahya alnoor) from  Healthy Muslims

Love Of Dove’s

Last Friday I heard the khutba'ah from Holy city Mecca, it’s a very important note on society and it's still on my mind.

The main ingredients of good society is successful marriage and the Immam gave very important advice.

He said it’s really very important whom you choose as your life partner so choose wisely and don't just look at beauty which pleases you but also look at the character.

Never a man or women bind in marriage if they don't like each other or if any one of them have any objection.

For a successful marriage one should look at the good in each other and stop arguing with each other look at the similarities and lead the life.

The best thing for a man or women could do is get married.
This was really a beautiful khutba'ah I got only few points for you though you may read it many times but I'm sharing it as I can't stop myself.

"A piece of land is turned into garden after many efforts such is a marriage so do your best to turn it into a garden whose fragrance will guide you to Jannah Insha'Allah."

The Prophet salAllahu"alayhi wasallam said "Whoever has married has completed half of his religion; therefore let him fear Allah in the other half "Bayhaqi

By Faiza Al Noor

What are women's rights in Islam?

In a truely Islamic society women have the following rights in Islam:

1. The right and duty to obtain education.
   
   
2. The right to have their own independent property.
   
   
3. The right to work to earn money if they need it.
   
   
4. Equality of reward for equal deeds.
   
   
5. The right to express their opinion and be heard.
   
   
6. The right to provisions from the husband for all her needs and more.
   
   
7. The right to negotiate marriage terms of her choice.
   
   
8. The right to obtain divorce from her husband, even on the grounds that she simply can't stand him...(pls note that God deeply frowns upon divorce as a solution unless there is hardly any other alternative but it does not mean that men have more right to divorce their wives than women do)
   
   
9. The right to keep all her own money...
   (she is not responsible to maintain any relations)
   
   
10. The right to get sexual satisfaction from her husband.
    
    
11. Custody of their children after divorce.
    
    
12. To refuse any marriage that does not please them and more...

by Rani Kiran ref: OQC group

Muslim women's achievements in field of knowledge

The Ideal Muslimah

The gates of knowledge are open to the Muslim woman, And she may enter which ever of them she chooses so long as this does not go against her feminine nature, but develops her mind and enhances her emotional growth and maturity. We find that history is full of prominent examples of remarkable women who sought knowledge and became highly proficient.

Foremost among them is the Mother of the Believers `A'ishah (May Allah be pleased with her), who was the primary source of hadith and knowledge of the sunnah, and was the first faqihah in Islam when she was still a young woman no more than nine years of age.

Imam al-Zuhri said: "If the knowledge of `A'ishah were to be gathered up and compared to the knowledge of all the other wives of the Prophet (PBUH) and all other women, `A'ishah's knowledge would be greater.

Her knowledge and deep understanding were not restricted only to matters of religion; she was equally distinguished in poetry, literature, history and medicine, and other branches of knowledge that were known at that time. The faqih of the Muslims

Urwah ibn al-Zubayr was quoted by his son Hisham as saying:

"I have never seen anybody more knowledgeable in fiqh or medicine or poetry than `A'ishah."

`A'ishah (May Allah be pleased with her) had a curious mind and was always eager to learn. Whenever she heard about something she did not know, she would ask about it until she understood it. Her closeness to the Messenger of Allah (Peace Be Up On Him) meant that she was like a vessel full of knowledge

Imam Bukhari reports from Abu Mulaykah that `A'ishah, the wife of the Prophet (peace Be Up On Him) never heard anything that she did not know, but she would keep going over it until she understood it.

The Prophet (Peace Be Up On Him) said

"Whoever is brought to account will be punished."

`A'ishah (May Allah be pleased with her) said

"I said, But does Allah (SWT) not say ( Soon his account will be taken by an easy reckoning') (Qur'an 84:8)"

He said, "That refers to al-`ard (when everyone is brought before Allah (SWT) on the Day of Judgement); but whoever is examined in detail is doomed."

In addition to her great knowledge, `A'ishah (May Allah be pleased with her) was also very eloquent in her speech. When she spoke, she captured the attention of her audience and moved them deeply.

This iswhat made al-Ahnaf ibn Qays say:

"I heard the speeches of Abu Bakr, `Umar, `Uthman, `Ali and the khulafa' who came after them, but I never heard any speech more eloquent and beautiful than that of `A'ishah."

Musa ibn Talhah said:

"I never saw anyone more eloquent and pure in speech than A'ishah."

A'ishah, the other wives of the Prophet (PBUH), the daughter of Sa`id ibn al-Musayyab, Fatimah al-Samarqandi and other famous women scholars were not something unique or rare among Muslim women. There were innumerable learned women, who studied every branch of knowledge and became prominent in many fields.

The modern Muslim woman, looking at the magnificent heritage of women in Islamic history, is filled with the desire for knowledge, as these prominent women only became famous and renowned throughout history by virtue of their knowledge. Their minds can only be developed, and their characters can only grow in wisdom, maturity and insight, through the acquisition of useful, beneficial and correct knowledge.