Women's Issues

Q: I am 31 years old and been married for 7 years. From the first day my husband was unable to consummate the marriage because of his mild autism and anxiety issues (his father was very strict and abusive which according to doctors have resulted in his personality disorder). I tried to resolve the issue with the help of psychiatrists and urologists. He was barely able to perform under very high doses of medicines. He never came near to me until I requested him that we have to do intercoarse for having kids. Otherwise, It happened several times that we lived without intercoarse for 9 months to 1 year.

Later on I came to find out that if he does perform he still can't become a father because he is infertile too (with great difficulty and several attemps at clinic, he was enabled to deposit semen for test).

Now I have decided to take the divorce as I am tired of this nursing and unfulfilling life. For about a year we have never come closer. We practically sleep and live in different bedrooms.

My question is, if he agrees to sign the divorce papers, do I have to complete the time of iddat? My periods are fine and regular and it is very clear that I am not pregnant.

Secondly, I work as a research officer in a university which won't give me leave for three months. It is very important for me as I am financially dependent on this job. Moreover, can sit in iddat (without marrying another person) while going out of the house to work? 

Q: I’m 24 years old and I was born with Cp. Basically I’m in a wheelchair and I can’t really do much like change, bath, et. My mum does all of that for me! I come from a pious family Alhumdullah but I live in the same yard as my uncle and he has 3 sons, all of age. When my foi’s come to visit they also have sons and I’m the only girl! All of us are unmarried. Alhumdullah besides this condition of mine my mind is fine.

I’ve been wanting to go into pardah for many years now especially because of our living conditions and now that we are all grown up! When I expressed my desire to my mum she said that wearing a cloak and pardah will be too difficult for her to carry me because cloaks are slippery and she refuses for me to wear it! The best part of this is that my mum comes from a pious family and her entire family is in pardah!

I tried explaining to her that this is the order of Allah. If I wear it Allah will make it easy for her, but to no avail! She’s extremely stubborn. My mums family is full of Ulema and I tried to get them to talk to her but they just say “Allah knows your intention”.

I see how my cousins look at me and I don’t buy into this whole cousins are your brothers story! I reached out to my grandparents, my Daadi doesn’t like pardah at all so I didn’t get anywhere with her and I won’t try. My naani says that I must make life easy for my mum as it is it’s so difficult! We are living in times of great finah. I don’t know what to do. Please advise.

Q: If a woman gets her period after 11 days and she is traveling, does she have to read Salaah?

Q: I’m currently in my haidh and travelling overseas in 2 days. I’ll be moving from city to city so I would like to know after I have my ghusl, will I perform full salah throughout my trip or not?