ShyHijabi
Junior Member
:salam2:
This is all well and good until you are placed in a situation like I was for over 4 years. I converted to Islam and my family cut ties with me. For all intents and purposes I was like an orphan, no mahrem to escort me places. I approached a sheik with my situation and asked him what I should do. His response was, "It's haram to travel without an escort who is mahrem."
Well that's just great, am I supposed to create a mahrem out of thin air? He basically quoted Qur'an and Hadith but simply refused to acknowledge that what he was commanding was simply impossible. I needed to grocery shop, take my classes so I could eventually support myself if there never was a husband (it happens) and basically survive.
Islam is a religion of ease and common sense. There are some situations that require flexibility and allowances. I am now married and a physician. My work is vital as there is a serious lack of doctors for Muslim women. Would you rather we all remain "fixed in our homes" than provide someone for your mothers, daughter, and sisters to go to for health care? Would you rather a man examine and treat them?
Many of Prophet Mohammed's (peace be upon him) wives continued to work in charity outside the home. And of course we need not forget Kadijah, who the Prophet said was pivotal with her wealth (from her business, no less) when it came to the spread of Islam.
This is all well and good until you are placed in a situation like I was for over 4 years. I converted to Islam and my family cut ties with me. For all intents and purposes I was like an orphan, no mahrem to escort me places. I approached a sheik with my situation and asked him what I should do. His response was, "It's haram to travel without an escort who is mahrem."
Well that's just great, am I supposed to create a mahrem out of thin air? He basically quoted Qur'an and Hadith but simply refused to acknowledge that what he was commanding was simply impossible. I needed to grocery shop, take my classes so I could eventually support myself if there never was a husband (it happens) and basically survive.
Islam is a religion of ease and common sense. There are some situations that require flexibility and allowances. I am now married and a physician. My work is vital as there is a serious lack of doctors for Muslim women. Would you rather we all remain "fixed in our homes" than provide someone for your mothers, daughter, and sisters to go to for health care? Would you rather a man examine and treat them?
Many of Prophet Mohammed's (peace be upon him) wives continued to work in charity outside the home. And of course we need not forget Kadijah, who the Prophet said was pivotal with her wealth (from her business, no less) when it came to the spread of Islam.