“Sunni Arab Muslim parents invite correspondence for their daughter, 23, beautiful, very fair skinned, slim, educated, religious. Prefer doctor/surgeon/dentist/MD resident. Non-physicians need not apply; lawyers OK. Send picture and resume to CaliforniaGirl@marriage.com.” Faced with outrageous matrimonial requests like these, Jamal* believes he stands no chance in his mission to find a wife. At 24, Jamal has already met two girls […]
Asalamu alaykum, I’m struggling to deal with this one as it is almost at a chronic level. I’m thinking that an association towards the ease and sustainment of marriage should be established (at least on a local level). A course could be given over a two weekend period that covers the fiqh and social aspects of marriage. If one passes, […]
When I was growing up, the world was a perfect place. The only problem was, that it wasn’t. I used to believe that everything could always be ‘fair’. To me that meant no one should ever be wronged, and if they were, justice must be served. I fought hard for the way I believed things should be. But in my […]
Excerpted from Al Maghrib Institute’s “Fiqh of Love” seminar with Shaykh Waleed Basyouni. Great relationships don’t just happen; they are created. You have to work at it. If your job takes all of your best energy, your marriage will suffer. One of the greatest gifts you can give your spouse is your own happiness. It is possible to love and […]
This is the question you must ask before marrying someone. While many factors are used to determine compatibility, you may be surprised to read that the answer to this question is in fact mostly based on feelings. Through the process of getting to know different types of people, you will discover a variety of personalities and, more importantly, the type […]
Getting to know someone for marriage can be a nerve-racking and an exciting experience all at the same time. Through conversations, a couple seeks to learn about each other and determine compatibly for a lifetime together. However, many couples get so emotionally attached in the early stages of the relationship that they cannot see or choose to deny red flags […]
Those who are involved in family counseling, or facing family problems themselves, will notice some recurrent complaints: “She doesn’t like to…”,“He doesn’t spend enough time in…” and so forth. While often these problems are real, sometimes these complaints can be translated as: “She’s not like sister X”, “He doesn’t treat me the way brother Y treats his wife”, “She doesn’t […]
After engaging more with the Muslim community through activities like da`wah (calling to Islam), conferences, and halaqat (study circles), I have observed something intriguing: there seems to be a fascination—even obsession—with the topic of marriage. Regardless of whether a particular lecture is dedicated to something other than gender relations, the topic of marriage somehow always creeps up. Now, do I […]
IT IS A hard position to be in. You want to connect with someone at the deepest level of intimacy spiritually, physically, intellectually and emotionally. And yet, because of your decision to try your best to stick to the guidelines God has revealed for intimacy, you’re still single and possibly lonely. Some of you are constantly being asked by your […]
Too many of us are busy working all the time and we neglect our families/personal life. We need to find the balance in our work and personal life to be happy and content individuals. The following pointers will shed light upon some of these issues and how to deal with them. World Problems vs. Family Problems Husbands and fathers are […]
