Question for Muslim women

[Claire_from_DE]

Re: not praying while menstruating.

I understand about the official prayer 5 times a day. Do you also pray informally, and is that forbidden during that time?

I mean, do you also talk to Allah? For instance, seeing a beautiful sunset or seeing your child do something which amazes you, do you say in your heart, thank you Allah? For Christians I think this is very common because for us God is immanent, within our souls, as well as transcendent.

 

[Booklover]

These are commonly misunderstood “ideas,” even some Muslims don’t understand. The ayah in the Qur’an 4:34 is a guide for husbands to follow before resorting to divorce, for a woman who is very disobedient in her religion–and this is a grave thing, not just “won’t listen to them” like you said. Moreover, the ayah actually is preventing any sort of domestic abuse. Rather than allowing the husband to hit his wife, he first has to instruct her, tell her what she is doing is wrong. If she persists, then he is to leave her bed. And if she still persists, the last resort before a divorce is to supposedly “hit” her, although some scholars even take the opinion that “hit” actually means for the husband to have intercourse with his wife again. Others allow it means hitting but in such a way that no mark is left, and not on the face, in such a way that is merely symbolic, so lightly as if being hit by a toothbrush.

Regarding women’s supposed “deficiency” the hadith is saying that women perform less prayers than men do–in general it’s true, women have a lighter obligation in regards to prayer, because they do not have to pray while menstruating. And about intelligence, the suggestion is that women are more sensitive to their emotions than logic–which is a benefit in its own way, and also a physiological truth. It’s not so much an insult really–he was encouraging the women to give in charity.

You don’t consider any of these things derogatory to women? I’m sorry, but this is absolutely ridiculous! In the last paragraph you’re basically saying in a convoluted way that women are in fact inferior to men! In what way is that encouraging women to give in charity?

Vickie

 

[Booklover]

I cover my hair.

I think it’s a good thread, too. Or it started out good… it was good until people started trying to insult the participants (i.e., Muslim women.)

There is only one country where Muslim women can’t drive–and it’s not because of Shari’ah, unfortunately they have a cultural problem with it. In the same country women can’t vote, but neither can men. It’s a monarchy. And Rick, I already answered Agnos’s post, if you would just look closely.

All we did was quote your own prophet!

Vickie

 

[tawheedah]

Re: not praying while menstruating.

I understand about the official prayer 5 times a day. Do you also pray informally, and is that forbidden during that time?

I mean, do you also talk to Allah? For instance, seeing a beautiful sunset or seeing your child do something which amazes you, do you say in your heart, thank you Allah? For Christians I think this is very common because for us God is immanent, within our souls, as well as transcendent.

We’re allowed to and encouraged to make dua (what you would consider as informal praying) to Allah SWT during our periods, and make dhikr (rememberance of Allah). We always thank Allah and remember Allah in everything we do.

Ex, I still on my period would say the dua to enter the bathroom and seek his forgiveness when leaving it, I would still say “bismillah” before I eat, drink, sleep, leave the house, etc.

So it’s not as if we’re shut off from Allah during our periods. He’s still listening to us, with us and hears our duas. Alhamdulillah (Praise is due to Allah)

 

[Booklover]

www.whyislam.org

this is a better site to meat women converts to islam

Were you perhaps thinking of the “meat” imam?

Vickie

 

[tawheedah]

Why would having a period, which is a bodily function that God created for women, make it not permissible for them to pray?

Vickie

Because we are not pure. Instead of thinking of it as being unfair, try looking at it as a mercy from Allah SWT. A few days a month when the woman doesn’t have to wake up at dawn, the woman who runs the household and takes care of the home, the husband and the kids, gets an extra hour or so to sleep while she is in a state of impurity. We can’t make salat (which I’m not going to lie to you is something I miss when I have my period), but we can make dua and dhikr until our heart’s content and can still stay close to Allah SWT.

 

[ralphinal]

Because we are not pure. Instead of thinking of it as being unfair, try looking at it as a mercy from Allah SWT. A few days a month when the woman doesn’t have to wake up at dawn, the woman who runs the household and takes care of the home, the husband and the kids, gets an extra hour or so to sleep while she is in a state of impurity. We can’t make salat (which I’m not going to lie to you is something I miss when I have my period), but we can make dua and dhikr until our heart’s content and can still stay close to Allah SWT.

I have never understood why God made someone impure. I should ask the Jewish posters this as well. Why would God make someone impure through no choice of their own? In other words, God made you less perfect then men because he made you impure every month. If you die during your menstration, are you in trouble as you die impure?

 

[tawheedah]

I have never understood why God made someone impure. I should ask the Jewish posters this as well. Why would God make someone impure through no choice of their own? In other words, God made you less perfect then men because he made you impure every month. If you die during your menstruation, are you in trouble as you die impure?

Passing gas makes you impure, you do wudhu and fix it. If we’re bleeding we can’t be in a state of wudhu, which we need to be when we pray. I’m not asking you to understand God. It’s not for us to know everything He does or why. He does what He does and wills what He wills. He says Be and it is. If you die during your period how is that going to be a curse from Allah? He is the one that gave us the period. You won’t be in trouble for not praying that day because you’re not supposed to.

Do you know that a woman who dies during childbirth has the rank of a martyr??? No man could ever lose his life in that manner…

 

[ralphinal]

Passing gas makes you impure, you do wudhu and fix it. If we’re bleeding we can’t be in a state of wudhu, which we need to be when we pray. I’m not asking you to understand God. It’s not for us to know everything He does or why. He does what He does and wills what He wills. He says Be and it is. If you die during your period how is that going to be a curse from Allah? He is the one that gave us the period. You won’t be in trouble for not praying that day because you’re not supposed to.

That is a little better. I still have an issue with God making someone impure when that person has NO CHOICE on their own. This flies in the face of the teachings of Jesus, who taught that it is what we choose to do or ignore doing that makes us impure. I guess that it is another way that we are different.

Can God force someone to sin? Will God force someone do evil? Can God lie or decieve?

Do you know that a woman who dies during childbirth has the rank of a martyr??? No man could ever lose his life in that manner…

I like that teaching.

 

[Booklover]

Because we are not pure. Instead of thinking of it as being unfair, try looking at it as a mercy from Allah SWT. A few days a month when the woman doesn’t have to wake up at dawn, the woman who runs the household and takes care of the home, the husband and the kids, gets an extra hour or so to sleep while she is in a state of impurity. We can’t make salat (which I’m not going to lie to you is something I miss when I have my period), but we can make dua and dhikr until our heart’s content and can still stay close to Allah SWT.

I’m sorry, but this is absolute nonsense!

Vickie

 

[deb1]

1. Of course in Islam, the best course of action in a marriage is forgiveness and resolution of conflict–not divorce–but sometimes a couple is poorly suited and divorce is given as an option for the man and the woman to leave the marriage if they are unsatisfied. And I just have to add, it is NOT an Islamic teaching that women were created as a “help-mate” to man, and I as a woman find that to be a degrading Judeo-Christian teaching.

I think that it is 1 Peter 3:7(but I might be wrong on the exact verse) that says that if a man doesn’t honor his wife then his prayers will be hindered from being heard in heaven. There is not punishment described for the woman who is a bad helpmate.

Its difficult to make a case that the New Testament is unfair to women when 1 Peter says that a husband’s prayers being heard by God depends on how he treats his wife.

 

[Booklover]

Passing gas makes you impure, you do wudhu and fix it. If we’re bleeding we can’t be in a state of wudhu, which we need to be when we pray. I’m not asking you to understand God. It’s not for us to know everything He does or why. He does what He does and wills what He wills. He says Be and it is. If you die during your period how is that going to be a curse from Allah? He is the one that gave us the period. You won’t be in trouble for not praying that day because you’re not supposed to.

Do you know that a woman who dies during childbirth has the rank of a martyr??? No man could ever lose his life in that manner…

What you have to ask yourself is whether God is the tyrant you make him to be and to whether these so-called “commands” of his make any sense or actually come from God!

You can’t be too sure when you make the ridiculous and convoluted explanations above about understanding God! We are free to pray anytime, any place!

Vickie

 

[deb1]

Much that I learn about Islam has some similarities to Orthodox Judaism. For example, Jewish people have Kosher laws, they pray at set periods of time(although they can pray anytime), the women of certain Orthodox Jewish groups cover their hair upon marriage etc.

I was just wondering if some of the converts to Islam ever considered converting to Orthodox Judaism?

I know that there are different sects(is that the word I want?) of Muslims. Among the Muslim participants on this thread what Islamic sect/denomination do you each belong to?

Do you ever think that there will be a Islamic democracy? I ask because I have read that Islam is incompatable with democracy.

 

[Booklover]

Much that I learn about Islam has some similarities to Orthodox Judaism. For example, Jewish people have Kosher laws, they pray at set periods of time(although they can pray anytime), the women of certain Orthodox Jewish groups cover their hair upon marriage etc.

I was just wondering if some of the converts to Islam ever considered converting to Orthodox Judaism?

I know that there are different sects(is that the word I want?) of Muslims. Among the Muslim participants on this thread what Islamic sect/denomination do you each belong to?

Do you ever think that there will be a Islamic democracy? I ask because I have read that Islam is incompatable with democracy.

Islam is incompatible with democracy! Muslims do not believe in man made laws though we believe that God gave us the right to make such laws for ourselves.

Our Catechism states:

ARTICLE 3
MAN’S FREEDOM

1730 God created man a rational being, conferring on him the dignity of a person who can initiate and control his own actions. "God willed that man should be ‘left in the hand of his own counsel,’ so that he might of his own accord seek his Creator and freely attain his full and blessed perfection by cleaving to him."26
Man is rational and therefore like God; he is created with free will and is master over his acts.27

Vickie

 

[tawheedah]

I’m sorry, but this is absolute nonsense!

Vickie

You’re entitled to your opinion and your beliefs, no need for you to bash ours and always be so ignorant and disrespectful.
**
Verily, either we or you are rightly guided or in plain error. (Quran Saba:24)

Surat ul Kaafiruun (The Disbelievers)109:
Say: O Ye who reject faith! I worship not that which you worship, nor will you worship that which I worship. And I will not worship that which you have been accustomed to worship, nor will you worship that which I worship. To you be your way, and to me- mine.**

 

[dessert]

You’re entitled to your opinion and your beliefs, no need for you to bash ours and always be so ignorant and disrespectful.
**
Verily, either we or you are rightly guided or in plain error. (Quran Saba:24)

Surat ul Kaafiruun (The Disbelievers)109:
Say: O Ye who reject faith! I worship not that which you worship, nor will you worship that which I worship. And I will not worship that which you have been accustomed to worship, nor will you worship that which I worship. To you be your way, and to me- mine.**

I don’t believe we are bashing anything just confused how a one can be guided by a belief, that you don’t pray during your woman’s cycle. A woman could be hemmoraging and would certainly need prayer. She is in pain and takes a tylenol for it but can not pray? She could end up with no bleeding and that would be a complication as the lining has to be shed or it builds up and is double pain the next month. Prayer relaxes me and helps me with pain anytime. It just doesn’t seem like good guidance to me. Our Lord God always wants us to call upon His name, hmmmm He must be sad to think you shut Him out. I hope you change your belief.

 

[tawheedah]

Hi dessert, that particular statement about bashing was to Vickie directly, because most of her posts are just disrespectful and insulting and most of the links she posts are from anti-Islamic hate spewed websites.

Just because we can’t make salat doesn’t mean we can’t “pray” in the sense that you’re talking about or that Claire was asking about. We can do that and should do that always. “The tongue should always be moist from the rememberance of Allah”. We just can’t perform our 5 daily prayers, we can’t make the salat.

In case you missed what I posted earlier to answer Claire, here it is again:

**We’re allowed to and encouraged to make dua (what you would consider as informal praying) to Allah SWT during our periods, and make dhikr (rememberance of Allah). We always thank Allah and remember Allah in everything we do.

Ex: I still on my period would say the dua to enter the bathroom and seek his forgiveness when leaving it, I would still say “bismillah” before I eat, drink, sleep, leave the house, etc.

So it’s not as if we’re shut off from Allah during our periods. He’s still listening to us, with us and hears our duas. Alhamdulillah (Praise is due to Allah)**

We can say prayers, called duas, and ask Allah for specific things, we just can’t get down on the rug and make our salat/daily worship. There is a difference. One can make dua and call on their Lord and ask of Him at any time and does not need to be in a state of purity to do so.

 

[tawheedah]

Much that I learn about Islam has some similarities to Orthodox Judaism. For example, Jewish people have Kosher laws, they pray at set periods of time(although they can pray anytime), the women of certain Orthodox Jewish groups cover their hair upon marriage etc.

I was just wondering if some of the converts to Islam ever considered converting to Orthodox Judaism?

Hi Deb, good question… No I didn’t consider it. As I said in my first response on this thread, the Bible left me with questions. In the Quran, I found the answers. However, there are some similarities in the ways of life in both Islam and orthodox Judaism.

I’d like to point out that we must perform our 5 daily prayers at set times, but other than that we can offer many other voluntary prayers and as well make dua and dhikr (rememberance) at any time.

I know that there are different sects(is that the word I want?) of Muslims. Among the Muslim participants on this thread what Islamic sect/denomination do you each belong to?

I don’t belong to any sect of Islam. I am a Muslim, I live my life according to the Quran and the Sunnah, and I’m just trying to stay on the straight path. Insha Allah (God Willing)

 

[Sister_Amy]

I thank you for your answers. If I may respond to some

And I think you for your responses, and so I shall reply to them.

1. Understandable, but I guess that as many of these countries will never correctly follow the laws, then they will never truly follow the laws. Too much corruption in the world.

Perhaps. But can we strive for ideals?

1. But why is polygamy allowed? What is the rational given in the Koran? If it is the supporting of women and children, then only widows and divorced women should be allowed as second and so on wives.

Many Muslims believe that polygamy should only be allowed for divorced/widowed women, basing this belief on the verse in the Qur’an which discusses the issue.

1. Ok. I did not know it applied to transactions. So, a woman’s word in a rape case is enough to prosecute a man or are witnesses needed?

ABSOLUTELY!!! A BIG, FAT, RESOUNDING, DEFINITE YES.

1. That is fine, too. I still hold by the statement that salvation does not depend on the division of some dead dude’s property, so it need not be discussed in a church.

I still hold that “salvation” depends on our faith and righteousness and obeying God’s command, and I do believe that God has given us instructions for how to live and dividing inheritance is something He has prescribed.

1. Is it any more degrading to be a help-mate than a women in Saudi Arabia or Afganistan during the Taliban? A help mate does not mean slave or servant, it means someone to assist him in surviving. A partner in the journey through life.

I’m planning to move to Saudi Arabia in a few months hopefully. I think that women have been unfairly prohibited from doing certain things because of the CULTURE in these societies, and not because of Islam.

1. Why are they promised to men but men are not promised to women? Further, if one wanted to, one could take issue with the whole virgin thing, but I understand that is a misrepresentation of the actual teaching.

Men are promised to women.

 

[Sister_Amy]

Ok I didn’t see it in your profile but it sounds like from your posts I thought maybe you just knew a lot.
How come the man had to come on and validate the women’s statements?

What man had to come on and validate a woman’s statements? Has a man had to validate mine? Sorry I’m confused… not sure I understand what you meant here.