Guest Blog
Reprinted from the Yaqeen Institute with permission from Imam Omar Suleiman. Is Islam pro-life, pro-choice, or both depending on the circumstances? And what implications does the answer to this question have for current political discourse? This essay seeks to offer a comprehensive look at how classical and contemporary Muslim jurists have dealt with the subject in accordance with evolving methods, circumstances, and debates surrounding the topics of contraception and abortion. 119
The adhān of fajr called outside my hospital window. My contractions were coming hard and fast as I struggled to the restroom, performed wuḍūʾ, and then stood to pray fajr. A delivery nurse stood by as I began my prayer in qiyām and sat for rukūʿ and sujūd. When I said ‘salām’ at the end of the prayer, the nurse hauled me up and out to the delivery room, where, before the sun came up, my son was born. [PDF of article available with table that I was unable to post in the blog] For a birthing mother, the prayer remains an obligation until the baby’s head is born. It is
When a woman gets pregnant it is as though she has joined a club. She suddenly hears horror stories of aunties, friends, and neighbors. Everyone wants to touch her stomach, and all around her she begins to see pregnant women. Her smart phone fills up with apps about baby’s growth, her weight, and nutritional guidelines. She buys books and watches YouTube videos about how to have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. She dreams about her healthy glow, and imagines herself in cute pregnancy clothes. Then reality sets in… … She may spend hours throwing up, or just feel
The ritual prayer – salah – in Islam is a grave matter. It is that which defines the validity of our Islam. Jabir says, “I heard the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, say, ‘That which is between a man and disbelief or idolatry is the leaving of salah.’” (Saheeh Muslim) It is also the first thing we will be held to account for on the Day of Judgment. Abu Hurairah (r) said that the Prophet (saws) said, “The first thing the servant is held accountable for on the Day of Judgment is his prayer. If it is valid then he triumphs
