Women's Issues

Women going to the masjid to attend masjid programs

Q: I am a member of a Musjid committee. My question is about the ladies facility at the Musjid. 

Some committee members feel that we must invite the sisters to attend some Musjid programs, especially which take place on special occasions and in Ramadhaan, in the separate ladies facility at the Musjid. There is no intermingling in the Musjid. These programs may also include meals served to them. 

Other committee members are of the view that this must be avoided. 

Please advise which is the correct policy to adopt in this issue.

Woman living alone after iddat

Q: Is it permissible for a female after her iddah to remain in the town she was married in? 

She has a teaching post as well as housing. Housing will be in a shared property with a Muslim family if safety is of concern. 

She does have parents but due to the abusive environment she would feel more safe remaining where she is currently sitting in her iddah. Her father is encouraging her to return to live with her parents. 

To my knowledge, a female is allowed to marry/re marry without the consent of her wakeel. Does this enable her to make all other decisions within the boundaries of Shariah by herself or does she now, after iddah, require the permission of her father? 

Yellow discharge

Q: I recently went to a Muslim doctor and I mentioned to her regarding me getting yellow discharge now and then. So I asked does she consider it haiz and she told me no, maybe it's like an illness or something else but from what she knows brown is like dried blood but not yellow discharge. Can I take this advice from her?

Woman in haidh becoming clean on a plane

Q: I will be travelling from Jhb to Dubai and from Dubai to Madinah. When I depart I will be in the state of haidh but it will stop over the course of the journey.

1. If I realise that I am no longer in the state of haidh whilst on the plane and ghusl is not possible and salaah time will set in and pass while on the plane, what are my options?

2. If haidh ends and I cannot make ghusl, would I be considered to have been paak and if 78km away from Madina will qasr then apply to me? Or will I only be considered paak once ghusl is made upon landing and so full salaah applies?

Old lady going for umrah during iddat

Q: My grandmother has an umrah trip planned for end of March. But her husband passed away a few days ago (Feb 11). I am aware that iddat is for 4 months ten days but my grandma is 75 years old and I wanted to know if she is able to go to umrah and complete the remainder of her iddat when she gets back or is it not permissible for her to go? I was not aware if age makes a difference.