AWAKE RAMADHAAN 1440 / MAY — JUNE 2019 e Speaking when inside the bathroom or toilet unless it is necessary. e Eating with knives and forks. THE NAASHIZAH Naashizah means a wife who is disobedient to her husband. When a woman is classified as a naashizah according to the Shariah, the husband is entitled to withhold maintenance from her. A woman will be classified as naashizah in two cases only: (1) She leaves the home without the consent of her husband. (2) She denies her husband’s conjugal rights without valid reason. Although literally, she will be a naashizah if she refuses to obey any lawful order of her husband, such nushooz (disobedience) while sinful is not grounds for withholding maintenance from her. Thus, if a woman does not leave the home without the consent of her husband, he may not refuse to provide maintenance for her even if she is grossly disobedient to him and makes his life a misery. THE MUSJID PROHIBITIONS The following acts are prohibited: e To enter the Musjid without wudhu e To speak, recite or make thikr when the Imaam stands up to proceed to the mimbar for the Jumuah Khutbah -101-FEMALES AND SECULAR EDUCATION e To recite Durood Shareef audibly or silently with lip movement when the name of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) is mentioned during the Khutbah e To enter the Musjid or to perform Salaat clad in a manner which is undignified and Makrooh according to the Shariah, e.g. jeans and sweaters, T-shirts with inscriptions even if the inscriptions are not lewd. e To speak while the Athaan is being recited by the Muath-thin. e To lean against the wall of the Musjid for no valid reason, e To speak while making wudhu. FEMALES AND SECULAR EDUCATION Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: “Do not teach your women writing (kitaabat).” In several Ahaadith Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) had discouraged women from being taught the art of writing. Whatever the reasons for this discouragement, the fact remains it is an order of Nabi- e-Kareem (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). The prohibition mentioned in the Hadith in this regard is not total and mandatory for all women. Since Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) himself had permitted Hadhrat Hafsah (radhiyallahu anha) to learn writing, it is clear that while he did discourage women from writing, the prohibition is not of the haraam classification. It is permissible for women to be taught - 102 -