Veil

format_quote Originally Posted by ardianto

Can a woman propose marriage to a man ?

Most certainy she can and such women should not be looked down upon. There are hadith in Bukhari where a women offered herself to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallim) for marriage and the Prophet did not rebuke or criticise her for it. So it is perfectly fine and any culture that looks down upon such women is backward.

Some ways that she could do this would be to ask her parents to approach his parents; or to send a message through someone who knows him (for example his sister, aunt, cousin, etc) that she is interested, in order to learn if he also might be interested.

However If there is no way of her getting anyone else to approach him (like her mahrams, elder women in the family or last resort a friend) then as an absolute last resort she can approach him herself but she must be very careful to ensure she does so in the most honourable manner possible keeping within the boundaries of Islam. She should do so in public and in a straight forward manner, keeping her gaze low and making her intentions known, keeping the tone of her voice straight and to the point and and not soft, asking him if he wants the same so that he can contact her mahram etc.

Such a women has done nothing wrong in taking the initiative to find a good and pious partner as long as she is very careful and goes about it in the right manner within the boundaries of Islam.

And Allah knows best in all matters

Women who reject men cos of beards frustrate me, would they reject the prophet (saw) also cos he had a beard or any other great men who had beards.

format_quote Originally Posted by Vision

I thought it was the other way around? Majority of Muslims hold onto the view that it is compulsory for women to wear the Hijab, Wearing the face veil is personal choice and optional

It was not a personal choice according to the Sahaba, Tabi'een, tabi tabi'een, according to the opinion of the four imaams and the majority of classical scholars and ulema of the past 1000 years.

Although the other opinion held by many modern day scholars which states that the veil is Mustahab (preferrable) but not obligatory should also be respected and a valid difference of opinion.

And Allah knows best in all matters

brother

format_quote Originally Posted by Hamza Asadullah

If there is no way of her getting anyone else to approach him then she can approach him herself in public in a straight forward manner, keeping gaze low and making her intentions known, keeping her tone firm and not soft. Asking him if he wants the same so that he can contact her mahram etc.

Is there any evidence to suggest that women at the time of the Prophet used to approach men on the street and say they were interested in marrying them and could they contact their mahram?

I know women offered themselves in marriage to the Prophet , but that was because he was a Prophet. But is there any evidence to suggest that this was done outside of those circumstances?

And, if a woman approaches a man in this way to ask if he can contact her mahram, that means that she does have someone else that can approach him on her behalf, and that means there is no need for her to do such a thing, because that's what the wali is for.

I fear for a lone woman approaching a man in this manner, regardless of how public the place is, certainly in this day and age.

And Allah knows best in all matters, and may He forgive me if I sad anything wrong.

format_quote Originally Posted by Insaanah

brother



Is there any evidence to suggest that women at the time of the Prophet used to approach men on the street and say they were interested in marrying them and could they contact their mahram?

I know women offered themselves in marriage to the Prophet , but that was because he was a Prophet. But is there any evidence to suggest that this was done outside of those circumstances?

And, if a woman approaches a man in this way to ask if he can contact her mahram, that means that she does have someone else that can approach him on her behalf, and that means there is no need for her to do such a thing, because that's what the wali is for.

I fear for a lone woman approaching a man in this manner, regardless of how public the place is, certainly in this day and age.

And Allah knows best in all matters, and may He forgive me if I sad anything wrong.

Regarding evidences for a women to be able to propose marriage to a man then the fact that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) did not rebuke the women who approached him (alone) for marriage shows the permissability of a women being able to propose marriage to a man even if she is alone (however it is not recommended for her to approach him without being accompanied by someone and would only be an absolute last resort). If the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) disliked the manner in which she approached him or anything about how she approached him then surely he would have said so.

In my last post I should have clarified further that if she cannot conduct the proposal through a mahram or any elder women in the family or elder friend etc at all for whatever reason, then she should at least be accompanied by someone or another, even a friend. However as i have mentioned the women approaching the man should only be done as a very last resort, if there is no possible way that she can get any mahram (or she may not have any mahram) or a chaperone to accompany her. But it would be quite rare for a women not to be able to conduct a propsal through a mahram or women folf of her family or even any elder women or friend or to at least bring someone with her if she cannot get anyone to conduct the proposal on her behalf. But there are sisters who are in such a situation who have no one.

Unfortunately there are many sisters out there who are completely alone in their pursuit for marriage or have very unsupportive families particularly they may have refused to marry someone of "the familys choice". Such women may not get any support in the pursuit of marriage. Hence making it very difficult for them to find a potential suitor. In such cases she should still try her best to at least get someone to accompany her. If not then she has no choice and she should approach the situation in the best and most honourable manner possible within the boundaries of Islam.

And Allah knows best in all matters

format_quote Originally Posted by Hamza Asadullah

Seems like a dodgy survey you conducted there. How big was your sample? lol

Salaam,

Ah wut? O_o

I'm speaking from experience. No survey was conducted. I think I should start one.