Question:
My question is pertaining to the status of women here in the USA. As Muslim
sisters we are out numbering the brothers more than 8 to 1 . With this situation
how do U address the marriage situation in the Islamic society? Also the
second thing; with the ruling that the brothers are responsible for their
families the extended family, the widows orphans and divorced women in the
communities and extended communities, with this can U expound on the brothers
leaving the communities and or their countries to marry abroad. This is
leaving the Muslim sisters here without husbands. This situation is beginning
to become necessary to be discussed seriously. This Leaves me in a desperate
situation since I am older and am out of the situation mostly totally, because
of these situations and the fact that even the older brothers are looking
for younger wives.
Answer:
The situation of the Ummah today anywhere in the world is indeed
a travesty in all matters. As you know, the US is not an Islamic society
and common sense dictates that brothers should be able to find their wives
in the states since as you have said that women out number the men by far.
However, from an Islamic point of view both men and women are given their
preference in marriage. Families as well as individuals are free to marry
whomever they see fit. And that maybe someone next door or someone thousands
of miles away. Thus, there is really not much more to say from an Islamic
point of view on this matter because these preferences are not under our
control.
However, with regards to your situation,
remember that Allah is able to do all things, and if you pray to Him sincerely,
he will answer your supplications.
Allah (azza wajal) says:
"And when My slaves ask you concerning
Me, then I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the
invocations of the supplicants when he calls on Me (without any mediator
or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may
be led aright." [2:186]
Also remember the story of Umm Salamah
(may Allah be pleased with her), who was of older age when her husband
died. Though this story may not be directly related to your situation,
from this story you can derive many beneficial lessons of patience and
various supplications.
She said: "Abu Salamah came to
me one day after being with the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi
wa sallam) and said: 'I heard from the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu
alayhi wa sallam) something that made me very happy. He said, "There
is no calamity that befalls one of the Muslims and he responds by saying
'Inna Lillahi wa inna ilahi raji'oon (Truly, to Allah we belong, and truly,
to Him we shall return),' then he says, 'Allahumma ujurni fi museebati
w'ukhluf li khayran minha (O Allah, reward me in this calamity and compensate
me with something better than it),' but Allah will do that for him."'"
Umm Salamah said: "I learnt this from him, and when Abu Salamah died,
I said, 'Inna Lillahi wa inna ilahi raji'oon,' then , 'Allahumma ujurni
fi museebati w'ukhluf li khayran minha,' Then I thought to myself, Where
could I find anyone better than Abu Salamah? When my 'iddah (waiting-period)
was over, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) asked permission
to see me, whilst I was busy dyeing a hide. I washed the qaraz (a kind
of dye derived from a certain plant) from my hands and granted him permission,
putting out for him a leather cushion stuffed with palm fibres. He sat
down on it, and asked for my hand in marriage. When he had finished what
he had to say, I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, I do not want you to lose
interest in me, but I am a very jealous woman, and I am afraid that you
may see in me something that could earn me the punishment of Allah. I
am also a woman who is ageing, and I have children.' He said, 'As for
the jealousy you mentioned, Allah will take this away from you (according
to another report: as for you saying that you are a jealous woman, I will
pray to Allah to take away your jealousy). As for what you say about age,
the same applies to me as to you. As for your children, your children
are my children.' So I accepted his offer and the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu
alayhi wa sallam) married me. Allah gave me someone even better than Abu
Salamah, namely the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) ."
In order for our supplications to
be answered inshaAllah, one has to be completely honest with Allah in
the way that person seeks to be patient in the pleasure of Allah. The
Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said : "Whoever seeks to be
patient, Allah will give him patience." (Bukhari).
Allah has created the means of getting
results, so in the midst of our trials, we must pay special observance
to the laws of Allah that govern us. InshaAllah use this time as building
on the good character that you posses and polishing the bad characteristics
you may have. Continue to strive hard and call on Allah. Allah will not
betray the hopes of His slaves or cause their hard work and efforts to
be lost or wasted. InshaAllah if you are patient, many good things such
as marriage will come to you without you expecting it. And if they do
not come in this life, you have succeeded inshallah in the pleasure of
Allah for something better in the next life.
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