Aisha Hasan “May Allah forgive me for saying this, but I cannot believe the Prophet would have said such a thing. I don’t believe in these hadith and that’s that.” This was the conclusion of a conversation with a sister on social media over the hadith regarding the Hoor al-Ayn promised for believing men in paradise. Two months later, another young woman at an Islamic … Continue reading Rejecting hadith in the face of feminism
Aisha Hasan Saudi teen Rahaf Mohammed finally landed in Canada this week. Met at the airport by supporters and well-wishers, she smiled and waved, sporting a Canada hoodie and UN baseball cap as cameras flashed around her. Allegedly escaping abuse by her parents, the teen’s request for asylum was advanced by Canadian authorities, after days of international media coverage. Rahaf’s story could not be more … Continue reading Rahaf Mohammad and the Western saviour complex
Aisha Hasan “We really need more female scholars” A statement heard time and time again in Muslim communities in the West. Whether it is an organisation searching for a female speaker for an event or a general discussion lamenting the lack of knowledge amongst Muslims, the importance of female scholarship is regularly mentioned as a crucial factor in countering the problems of the Ummah around … Continue reading ‘We really need more female scholars’ – a response
Today, for many women struggling against glass ceilings and unequal pay, the fact that the wife of the Prophet ﷺ, Khadijah (ra), was a wealthy entrepreneur in a time where most business owners were men is a source of pride. Often cited as a true representation of women’s empowerment under Islam, our knowledge of how Khadijah (ra) proposed marriage to the Prophet ﷺ when she … Continue reading Khadijah (ra): A standard working mother?
Aisha Hasan Last week UK education watchdog Ofsted announced that it would be questioning Muslim girls in primary schools who wear the hijab, prompting outrage amongst the Muslim community. The reason for this unwarranted, invasive, intrusive questioning: the decision to wear hijab may have been forced on young girls, causing them to be sexualised at an early age. In recent days, the Muslim community in … Continue reading People think hijab sexualises young girls because of the Muslim community
The Qarawiyyin Project 