Question:

Is it permissible or not for a woman to uncover her breast in front of her mahrams in order to breastfeed her child, if there is no fear of fitnah?

Answer:

A woman’s ‘awrah before her mahrams such as her father, brother, and brother’s son is her entire body except that which ordinarily appears such as the face, hair, neck, forearms and feet. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband’s fathers, or their sons, or their husband’s sons, or their brothers or their brother’s sons, or their sister’s sons, or their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sisters in Islâm)” [al-Noor 24:31]

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Undoubtedly children are a source of great joy and delight; they make life sweet, bring more rizq into a family’s life and give hope. A father sees his children as a future source of help and support, as well as representing an increase in numbers and perpetuation of the family. A mother sees her children as a source of hope, consolation and joy in life, and as hope for the future. All of these hopes rest on the good upbringing of the children and giving them a sound preparation for life, so that they will become active and constructive elements in society, a source of goodness for their parents, community and society as a whole. Then they will be as (SWT) described them:

“Wealth and sons are allurements of the life of this world . . .” (Qur’an 18:46)

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Could you please tell me if there are any books that cover the topic of how to look after a baby. Currently we have to rely on the advice given by doctors in the West which may not be correct. It would be so nice to be able to follow the way of the Sahabat. For example, did they share their beds with their babies?, when did they give solid foods?, how did they discipline the young children? etc etc.

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Planning your marriage is more important than planning your wedding. Unfortunately nowadays, it is the opposite. Millions of people tend to spend most, if not all of their time preparing for that perfect-glamorous wedding…and quite frankly, I’d say probably half of that million ended up in a divorce.

InshaAllah this post will be of beneficial to you and your prospective spouse. You may choose as many as you wish, out of 100 questions - what you would ask your potential spouse.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to ask these questions so you may be able to understand your prospective spouse and to find out if you are compatible with each other.

You can download and print a PDF copy here :
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This eBook is an extract from the popular, “The Ideal Muslimah” book by By Dr. Muhammad ‘Ali Al-Hashimi.

One of the chapters was very relevant to Islamic parenting so we extracted only this chapter and made it available for download here. Chapter 5 is titled, “The Muslimah and Her Children” and contains the following:

• She understands his great responsibility towards her children
• She uses the best methods in bringing them up
• She equally treats her sons and daughters equally
• She demonstrates her love and affection for them
• She does not pray against her children
• She is alert to everything that may have an influence on them
• She instils good behavior and attitudes in them Continue Reading…
  

This eBook is an extract from the popular, “The Ideal Muslim” book by By Dr. Muhammad ‘Ali Al-Hashimi.

One of the chapters was very relevant to Islamic parenting so we extracted only this chapter and made it available for download here. Chapter 5 is titled, “The Muslim and His Children” and contains the following:

• He understands his great responsibility towards his children
• He uses the best methods in bringing them up
• He demonstrates his love and affection for them
• He spends on them, willingly and generously
• He does not discriminate between sons and daughters in his affection and spending
• He is alert to everything that may have an influence on them
• He equally treats all his children
• He instills good behavior and attitudes in them Continue Reading…
  

If the family is the basis of the society, and the basis of the family is the division of labour between husband and wife, and the upbringing of children is the most important function of the family, then such a society is indeed civilised. In the Islamic system of life, this kind of a family provides the environment under which human values and morals develop and grow in the new generation; these values and morals cannot exist apart from the family unit.

If, on the other hand, free sexual relationship and illegitimate children become the basis of a society, and if the relationship between man and woman is based on lust, passion and impulse, and the division of work is not based on family responsibility and natural gifts; if the role of women is merely to be attractive, sexy and flirtatious, and if women are freed from their basic responsibility of bringing up children; and if, on her own or under social demand, she prefers to become a hostess or a stewardess in a hotel or ship or air company, thus using her ability for material productivity rather than the training of human beings, because material production is considered to be more important, more valuable and more honourable than the development of human character, then such a civilisation is ‘backward’ from the human point of view, or ‘jahili’ in Islamic terminology. Continue Reading…

On Eid-ul-Adha, Muslims commemorate the Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his first-born son at the command of Allah, and how Allah spared his son and made him a Prophet. When Ibrahim told his son that he had had a vision that Allah wanted him as a sacrifice, Ismail agreed to it without hesitation, as the Qur’an narrates:

Then, when the son reached the age of serious work with him, He said: “O my son! I see in vision that I offer thee in sacrifice: Now see what is thy view!” The son said: “O my father! Do as thou art commanded: Thou will find me, if Allah so wills one practising Patience and Constancy!” So when they had both submitted their wills to Allah, and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead for sacrifice, We called out to him, “O Abraham! Thou hast already fulfilled the vision!” - thus indeed do We reward those who do right. For this was obviously a trial - And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice. (37:102-107)

What is most remarkable about this story is how Ismail had complete trust in the wisdom of his father’s vision. How many of our children would react this way if we said to them, “God told me to sacrifice you”? Probably they would say, “Are you crazy?” They might accept the idea of martyrdom for the sake of Allah but they would not have the complete trust in his father’s relationship with Allah as Ismail had, which enabled him to believe in his father’s vision, and in his father’s interpretation of that vision. Continue Reading…

The birth of a first child can have a major impact on a couple’s relationship. Here are some tips to help with your transition from partner to parent.

• Make regular time to talk to one another about how you both feel.
• Recognise that the woman giving birth must deal with sometimes difficult and dramatic changes to her body, relationships and lifestyle.
• Be Patient with each other. Allah loves those who are patient.
• Acknowledge that the woman’s partner is often faced with new and challenging emotional, physical and economic demands.
• As with everything, make dua to Allah for help.
• Plan ways to make one another feel appreciated and cared for, both during the Continue Reading…
  

Amongst the clearest examples of Islam’s honoring women is the great status of the mother in Islam. Islam commands kindness, respect and obedience to parents. Islam raises parents to a status greater than that found in any other religion or ideology. Below are a few words about a mothers love for her child.

Mother’s love is countless and meaningful. Her kindness is hardly repaid by any precious things in this world. Her deep parental kindness in bringing Continue Reading…

The Ummah is deeply indebted to the efforts of the great luminaries of Islam. Everyone pays tribute to the Muhadditheen, Mufassireen, Jurists and Mubaaligheen for their exemplary efforts and services to Deen. However, most people are unaware of the fact that many of these great sons of Islam were brought up entirely by their mothers. It was the mother’s efforts in moulding their character and personality that eventually prepared them for the great task that they performed later in life. Thus, great tribute should be paid to these silent mothers for the foundational role that they played. Continue Reading…

It is rare for people to live together under one roof without any arguments, but reconciliation is better and correcting oneself is a virtue.

What shakes the unity of the family and harms its infrastructure is when conflicts are brought out into the open before the members of the family, who then split into two or more opposing camps, not to mention the psychological harm that is done to children, especially little ones. Continue Reading…

It may sound weird, but raising children begins with choosing a spouse. That is because raising children is a team effort between two people and who you choose, will have a big effect on how your children turn out.

A good example often given is that of seeds and land. If you want healthy trees and ripe fruits, you should search for fertile land. It would be a silly person to plant seeds in barren land or low quality soil and expect good results. The same applies for raising children. Continue Reading…

A woman, renewing her driver’s license at the County Clerk ’s office was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation.

She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. “What I mean is,” explained the recorder, “do you have a job or are you just a…?”

“Of course I have a job,” snapped the woman.

“I’m a Mum.”

“We don’t list ‘Mum’ as an occupation, ‘housewife covers it,” said the recorder emphatically. Continue Reading…