I was informed that in the Qur’an women have been instructed not to display their beauty and jewellery to outsiders. Would you elaborate on this please.

I wear a veil covering the face – niqab – in England, although it is disapproved of by the general public. I started wearing it with the intention of following in the footsteps of great ladies in Islam such as Sayyida Fatimah x and Sayyida Zaynab x. I was doubly pleased to do so when I realised that this gave me the opportunity to spread Islam. People approach me to ask why I wear such a strange thing. Ten years of wearing a headscarf of the type more commonly seen here, yielded no opportunity for me to explain the beauty of hijab. I was pleased to demonstrate to the West that it is possible for an educated, well-versed British muslimah, to go about her daily life in full hijab.On the other hand, jurists prohibit dressing in peculiar and exceedingly unusual clothes – Libas al-Shauhra. I wonder if wearing niqab in the West constitutes that?

Although I am from Bosnia where no one taught us religion, I am reading books and trying to learn about Islam. I desperately want to visit my family in Bosnia this summer, but do not know how to cope with not being able to embrace my cousins or even shake their hands? They are like brothers to me. I have even thought it better not to go, than to go and have them make fun of me. What should I do?

I ask this question because support and reassurance, by shaking a hand and patting a crying patient on the back, are professionally regarded as an appropriate means by which to relieve his/her anxiety. Is it in order to shake the hands of a non-mahram patient if she presents her hand for shaking either prior to commencing treatment – where contact is unavoidable, or after having completed the treatment?

Is it acceptable to use the Internet to chat to others, including females.

What advice can you give a young, but over 21-year-old, female Muslim, who issingle, able to control her actions and wants to travel abroad without a chaperone for thefollowing purposes: 1. For education/training and or business. 2. For sightseeing and the pleasure of tourism.Does the number of nights she is to spend away form home have any bearing?

As men and women may not be alone, please send me Qur’anic and ahadith references that outline the types of friendships non-mahram men and women may have. Mahram describes those who may not marry each other because of their close family ties. What for example, about Internet friendships?

My question relates specifically to that aspect of the term ‘hijab’ which refers to women’s’ head covering.I understand that if a woman visits areas in which local ladies commonly conceal their whole body by wearing a burka, it is obligatory – wajib – for them to also wear one, or at very least to veil their faces and heads. This way they avoid attracting the attention and curious stares of others. The very opposite is true in the non-Islamic world. Here it is women in hijab who attract the attention, stares, comments and bad behaviour of others. If it is the hijab which attracts such attention, comment and bad behaviour, does it not follow that it is safer and better for women in such surroundings NOT to stand out by wearing hijab? Some claim that this analogy logically leads to Muslim women adopting all the behavioural mores of non-Muslim women. So how far may boundaries of behaviour be stretched in the protection of women?

What is the verdict apropos ladies appearing in public with eyebrows shaped and eyeliner applied?

If, for example, a husband finds his wife naked on a bed with another man but does not actually witness them in the act of coitus, what is the shari’ah ruling if he, in his disturbed state, kills them? Such killings are not uncommon in Muslim societies. What is the shari’ah punishment for each of the individuals described above. What for example is the punishment for rape in places where punishments – hadd – decreed by an Islamic state do not exist?

Is it permissible for a girl to let a man, who has asked for her hand in marriage, see her hair and arms, if she believes he does not desire anything illicit?

I am a girl who wears hijab – muhajabah – and attends an international co-educational school. I do not want to sin in any way and write to ask if it is unacceptable for me to have a boy sitting next to me in class, to have male classmates telephone to discuss our work and other matters, or to join a group of male and female classmates to go to a movie or dinner.

I am a 19-year-old Iranian student currently in Canada. I have been trying to marry for about a year but am faced with problems which I do not know how to deal with.a. My family is opposed to Islam and despises the wearing of hijab – head covering. My parents would not agree to my marrying a girl who considers hijab an obligation.The father of a girl I discussed this with has a problem with the fact that my parents wouldnot agree. b. I am not yet financially ready to marry. Notwithstanding this, I honestly believe marriage is the only way for to me to save my faith – iman – surrounded as I am, by overflowing temptations. I believe it is obligatory – wajib – that I now marry.

In one saying, the Messenger (PBUH) said that women are less than men in mind, the faith – din – and fortune. However, he has explained this saying in a manner that is consistent with the texts cited concerning the rights, dignity and honour of women. Can you explain this please?

Is a women who does not wear hijab considered to be non-Muslim? Does it mean that Allah will not accept her good deeds, her prayers, her charity and her restraint from doing wrong? Can she hope to be rewarded for maintaining these Islamic values but be punished for not wearing hijab, as she will be for all her sins?

Is it acceptable to look without lust – shahwa – at a girl who does not wear hijab?

What guidance is offered regarding Muslim men looking at non-mahram women? Specifically: 1. muslimahs who are not concerned about hijab? 2. non-Muslim women?

Is it true that it is only permissible – halal – for a father to change his daughters diapers/nappies during the first year of his child’s life and that it becomes forbidden – haram – for him to do so after that?

Is it permissible to wear cosmetics in front of non-mahram males? Does this include mascara or eyeliner (kohl in Arabic)?

Is it acceptable for women to pluck and shape their eyebrows?