Converts / Reverts

Quick facts on Women in Islam

1: Islam grants women independent rights that hold throughout their lives. A woman keeps her own name after marriage, retains full control of her property and earnings, and may represent herself in court, testify before a judge, and give her own pledge of allegiance. She may also end a marriage through khulʿ (divorce in exchange for compensation) or tafrīq (judicial dissolution). Her male relatives are obligated to provide for her, while her own wealth remains entirely at her discretion

2: Nobility before God rests on piety, not gender. Men and women stand equal in their humanity, dignity, eligibility for salvation, and the inviolability of their rights. Equality, however, is not sameness. Men and women are distinct, and some teachings reflect that difference. For example, both are obligated to pray five times a day, yet women are exempt during menstruation

3: Islam transformed a society that held women in contempt, condemning female infanticide in the strongest terms and bringing the practice to an end. Women gained the right to refuse a marriage, own property, testify in court, seek divorce, and speak out against injustice. The Qur’an affirmed the dignity of daughters directly, and the Prophet ﷺ promised Paradise to those who raise them well

4: Hijab is a religious obligation, grounded in the Qur’an and the practice of the Prophet ﷺ and his companions. The obligation concerns modesty of dress and character, not conformity to a single style. Its expressions vary widely across cultures, and that variation is both expected and accepted

5: Gendered disparities in inheritance law dissolve when read within Islam’s integrated system of rights and duties. Inheritance shares that seem to favor men belong to a framework in which men alone bear the cost of maintaining the family, while a wife owes nothing toward household expenses.

What are the rights of women in Islam?

Islam establishes numerous rights for women.

On a societal level, Islam affirms the rights of women to maintain their identities, property, and dignity throughout their lives. Even after marriage, a Muslim woman’s name remains her own; she is not obligated or expected to adopt her husband’s surname. If she owns property, it remains in her name and under her purview for as long as she chooses to own it. Additionally, Muslim women have the right to represent themselves in court, to testify before a judge, and to pledge their allegiance on their own behalf.

On a familial level, Islam establishes the right of a Muslim woman for her male relatives to financially provide for her. She maintains full rights over money she obtains elsewhere (e.g., from her dower or through work). Islam also exalts the status of the mother and describes great reward for those who raise daughters with kindness.

Islam explicitly establishes the equality of men and women in their humanity, the inviolability of their respective rights, their eligibility for salvation, and their existence as a sign of God’s Mercy.

Are men and women equal in Islam?

Every man and woman is equal in their humanity and dignity before God.

In Islam, nobility and distinction are a function of piety, not of gender, race, wealth, or any other worldly trait.

O people, We created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes so that you may get to know one another. Surely the most noble of you in the sight of God is the most righteous among you. God is truly All-Knowing, All-Aware.

Qur’an 49:13]

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also declared that, “Women are the shaqā’iq (full siblings) of men.”

How did Islam impact women’s role in society?

Islam elevated women in a time when they were viewed as inferior to men or simply property.

Prior to Islam, a common practice among some Arab tribes was female infanticide, where baby girls were buried alive. Among other tribes, women were inherited like property. But in the words of Umar ibn al-Khattab, one of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ:

“In the pre-Islamic period, we used to have no regard for women whatsoever. But when Islam came and Allah made mention of them, this caused us to realize that they have rights upon us.”

The arrival of Islam in Arabia brought a halt to female infanticide, condemning it in the strongest of terms, and instigated a new era of women’s rights. Women gained the right to refuse marriages they weren’t interested in, own property, testify in court, maintain their own financial interests, seek divorce, and speak up when they faced injustice.

Is hijab mandatory

Yes, hijab requirements are mandatory for practicing Muslims.

The obligation of what we call hijab (the act of veiling) was commanded by God in the Qur’an, and understood and practiced by the companions of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. A scholarly consensus affirms the wearing of a hijab as a religious obligation.

This does not mean that all Muslim women must dress the same. Hijab practices can look very different across cultures, and this cultural variation is both expected and accepted.

Why do Muslim women wear hijab?

The act of veiling fulfills the Islamic obligation to establish modest dress and character.

Many Muslim women wear the hijab out of a desire to fulfill a commandment of God. For some, it is also an opportunity to outwardly express their Muslim faith. And for still other women, it is additionally a rejection of societal standards that constantly seek to objectify and sexualize women.

Although often overlooked in discussions of hijab, men have their own version of it. Though they are not obliged to cover their entire bodies, they too have specific requirements of dress and behavior that must be dignified and modest.

Does the testimony of a woman weigh less than a man’s?

While there are cases—particularly in financial matters or courtroom scenarios—that might require the testimony of two women, this is not a universal rule. Some scholars have noted that such differences are a reflection of the fact that, in most societies, women were less likely to be involved in and familiar with conventional economic spheres. Other scholars have noted that having two women testify in lieu of one protected them from being pressured or coerced during testimony (particularly given that people often testify against people they know personally). Nonetheless, in domains where women would be assumed to have a greater familiarity than men (e.g., childbirth) the testimony of a woman was often deemed superior to a man’s.

One of the most critical and weighty forms of testimony in Islam is the narration and transmission of hadiths of the Prophet Muhamamd ﷺ. Given the importance of ensuring the accurate preservation of hadiths and their crucial role in formulating Islamic beliefs, laws, and ethics, the standards of scrutiny for hadith narrators were exceedingly high. Despite these high standards, male and female hadith narrators were subjected to the same scrutiny and their testimonies were treated equally.

If testimony around something as critical as hadith did not devalue women, we should know that regardless of how Islamic law differentiates between male and female courtroom testimony, women are not the object of denigration or dismissal.

Tonight’s Dưa
Ya Allah,
take away what troubles my heart, bless what awaits me, and let me end this day knowing that whatever tomorrow brings, Your mercy will be enough for me.
Ameen Ya’Rabil’Alameen

Common misconceptions
Does Islam oppress women?

No, Islam does not oppress women. Rather, it affirms their right to maintain their identities, property, and dignity throughout their lives.

Even after marriage, a Muslim woman’s name and property remain her own. She is not obligated to spend her own money on her family. Additionally, Muslim women have the right to represent themselves in court as well as to testify on their own behalf. The Prophet ﷺ was directed in the Qur’an (60:12) to take the pledge of allegiance from women directly, thus giving them primary responsibility for themselves and their own lives and choices.

Even in the earliest days of Islam, women were free to speak on their own behalf, and their voices would be heard. One chapter of the Qur’an begins by mentioning a woman’s grievances to the Prophet ﷺ, stating:

Surely, Allah has heard the speech of the woman who argues with you [O Muhammad] concerning her husband and directing her complaint to God. And Allah hears your dialogue; indeed, Allah is Hearing and Seeing.

[Qur’an 58:1]

The Prophet’s ﷺ companions would treat women with great respect. Umar ibn Al-khattab said, “We used to have no regard for women until Allah revealed about them what He revealed, and portioned for them what He portioned.”

Does Islam treat men and women differently?

Unless otherwise specified, men and women are to be treated identically, with the same rights and responsibilities.

However, this does not entail sameness. Men and women are distinct, and Islam’s teachings and prescriptions often reflect these differences.

An example of Islam’s recognition of gendered difference can be found in the prayer. Men and women are both required to pray at appointed times, five times daily. However, women are exempt from their daily prayers during menstruation.

Can a woman divorce her husband?

A woman can request a divorce through the process of khul or tafriq.

Khul is when a woman requests her husband divorce her in exchange for some form of compensation. This compensation is usually a return of the dower the husband paid the wife and/or a forfeiture of alimony and financial support.

If a woman wants to end her marriage and her husband is unable or unwilling to grant her a divorce through talaq or khul, then she or her relatives can petition authorities to obtain a tafriq or faskh (judicial dissolution or annulment of a marriage). If a husband, for example, is not fulfilling any one of his wife’s rights within marriage (e.g., treating her well, financially providing for her), then she may obtain a judicial divorce without compensation.

Why British Women Are Turning To Islam

Unprecedented numbers of British people, nearly all of them women, are
converting to Islam at a time of deep divisions within the Anglican and
Catholic churches.

The rate of conversions has prompted predictions that Islam will rapidly become
an important religious force in this country. "Within the next 20 years
the number of British converts will equal or overtake the immigrant Muslim
community that brought the faith here", says Rose Kendrick, a religious

education teacher at a Hull comprehensive and the author of a textbook guide to
the Quran. She says: "Islam is as much a world faith as is Roman
Catholicism. No one nationality claims it as its own". Islam is also
spreading fast on the continent and in America.

The surge in conversions to Islam has taken place despite the negative image of
the faith in the Western press. Indeed, the pace of conversions has accelerated
since publicity over the Salman Rushdie affair, the Gulf War and the plight of
the Muslims in Bosnia. It is even more ironic that most British converts should
be women, given the widespread view in the west that Islam treats women poorly.

In the United States, women converts outnumber men by four to one, and in
Britain make up the bulk of the estimated 10, 000 to 20, 000 converts, forming
part of a Muslim community of 1 to 1.5 million. Many of Britain's "New
Muslims" are from middle-class backgrounds. They include Matthew
Wilkinson, a former head boy of Eton who went on to Cambridge, and a son and
daughter of Lord Justice Scott, the judge heading the arms-to-Iraq enquiry.

A small-scale survey by the Islamic Foundation in Leicester suggests that most
converts are aged 30 to 50. Younger Muslims point to many conversions among
students and highlight the intellectual thrust of Islam. "Muhammad"
said, "The light of Islam will rise in the West" and I think that is

what is happening in our day" says Aliya Haeri, an American-born
psychologist who converted 15 years ago. She is a consultant to the Zahra
Trust, a charity publishing spiritual literature and is one of Britain's

prominent Islamic speakers. She adds: "Western converts are coming to
Islam with fresh eyes, without all the habits of the East, avoiding much of
what is culturally wrong. The purest tradition is finding itself strongest in
the West."

Some say the conversions are prompted by the rise of comparative religious
education. The British media, offering what Muslims describe as a relentless
bad press on all things Islamic, is also said to have helped. Westerners
despairing of their own society - rising in crime, family breakdown, drugs and
alcoholism - have come to admire the discipline and security of Islam.

Many converts are former Christians disillusioned by the uncertainty of the church
and unhappy with the concept of the Trinity and deification of Jesus.

Quest of the Convert - Why Change?

Other converts describe a search for a religious identity. Many had previously
been practicing Christians but found intellectual satisfaction in Islam.

"I was a theology student and it was the academic argument that led to my
conversion." Rose Kendrick, a religious education teacher and author, said
she objected to the concept of the original sin: "Under Islam, the sins of
the fathers aren't visited on the sons. The idea that God is not always forgiving
is blasphemous to Muslims."

Many converts from Christianity reject the ecclesiastical hierarchy emphasizing
Muslims' direct relationship with God. They sense a lack of leadership in the
Church of England and are suspicious of its apparent flexibility. "Muslims
don't keep shifting their goal-posts," says Huda Khattab, 28, author of
The Muslim Woman's Handbook, published this year by Ta-Ha. She converted ten
years ago while studying Arabic at university. "Christianity changes, like the way some have said pre-marital *** is okay if it’s with the person you're
going to marry. It seems so wishy-washy. Islam was constant about ***, about
praying five times a day. The prayer makes you conscious of God all the time.
You're continually touching base."

https://youtube.com/shorts/4sQbEdo0mVM?si=j0Aiao3Elj_9-wKd

Reverted Muslims: Tips for New Muslims, Islam is Easy, # Shorts!

Assalamu'alaikum. Is there anyone here who wants to learn to read Arabic / learn to read the Qur'an from scratch? If there is, I would love to help, it's free!

Preferably sisters, as I am a sister myself. I have experience teaching the Qur'an and I still do. I don't have a sanad or anything like that, but insyaAllah the outcome is that at least you will be able to read the Qur'an with correctly

I only ask for seriousness and consistency. If you're interested, leave a comment and I'll DM you! 🌱

May Allah bless you and your family 🤲☝️📿

Keep Growing...

🕊️

In Islam, remaining celibate and choosing not to marry is not automatically sinful. However, the Islamic ruling depends on a person's circumstances, intentions, ability to control their desires and whether they fear falling into prohibited sexual behaviour.

If someone remains unmarried because marriage has been delayed, suitable partners have not been found, or personal circumstances have made marriage difficult, Islam does not condemn that person simply for being unmarried

1. Is remaining celibate permissible in Islam?
   Islam encourages marriage, but it does not require every Muslim to marry regardless of their circumstances.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
“O young men, whoever among you can afford to marry, let him marry, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and guarding one's chastity. And whoever cannot afford it, let him fast, for it will diminish his desire.”
— Sahih al-Bukhari 5066; Sahih Muslim 1400

This hadith teaches two important principles:

• Marriage is encouraged for those who are able to fulfil its responsibilities

• Those who cannot marry are given guidance on maintaining chastity

Therefore, a Muslim can remain celibate and live a religiously sound life without being married, provided they observe Islamic boundaries.

2. What if someone chooses to remain celibate for the rest of their life?

There is a distinction between remaining unmarried because circumstances have made marriage difficult and believing that deliberately renouncing marriage is inherently more religious

The Prophet ﷺ discouraged the idea of abandoning marriage as a permanent religious practice in the belief that avoiding marriage makes someone more righteous.

However, that does not mean every person must marry. Islamic scholars explain that the ruling on marriage can vary according to individual circumstances:

Circumstance

A person wishes to marry and can fulfil its
responsibilities

A person fears falling into zina (unlawful sexual intercourse) and is able to marry

A person cannot find a suitable spouse

A person chooses not to marry and can maintain chastity

A person cannot fulfil a spouse's rights or fears seriously wronging a spouse

General Islamic guidance

Marriage is generally strongly encouraged.

Marriage may become obligatory, according to the circumstances and scholarly interpretation.

Remaining unmarried while maintaining chastity is permissible.

Remaining unmarried is not automatically sinful.

Delaying or avoiding marriage may be more appropriate, depending on the circumstances.

“If Allah sends someone into my life, I hope she comes with a heart that makes gratitude feel natural.” 🤲🌙

https://youtu.be/szgpEcBjass?si=RMggcHFmXvNVuIrc

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