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?

Is it permissible for a female to visit a male doctor if a female doctor is available?

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?

My wife wears cosmetics at home and on occasions, traces of this might remain even after ablution – wudhu. Does this invalidate her prayer and if so, what should she do about the untold number of prayers which she might also have offered in similar circumstances.

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?

Is it permissible for a girl to read Qur’an or prayers of supplication – du’a – for a man who comes to ask for her hand in marriage?

I am a married woman with four children. The eldest has already left home, those who remain range between 18 and 11 years of age. For medical reasons I had to have surgery which rendered it impossible for me to have further children. I have been studying Islam, and my heart has been filled with the desire to follow Allah and live by His ways. My husband has no interest in Islam, and no longer permits me to even speak to him about it. Since I made the decision to accept Islam and live as a muslimah, I have regarded him as being no longer permissible to me in any way. I consider our marriage to be non-existent in the sight of Allah and the father of my children understands this.Because we feel it is best for our children to have a mother and a father, we continue to share our home. We no longer love one another, have not had physical relations for over six months and do not plan any in the future. We live as room-mates and parents but not as a couple. I now propose to guide the children towards Islam.For some three months I have been in contact with and have had the guidance of a Shi’ah Muslim gentleman over the Internet. He lives in the USA, is married and has two children. Although we have not yet met, we have developed very strong feelings for each other.If my marriage is void in the sight of Allah, I would like to marry a Muslim man, to be specific, the one I have just mentioned. At what point do I become permissible to another? When does the interim period of abstinence from sexual activity – idd’ah – start? After the nullification of the marriage or should I still wait for three months? When does nullification of the marriage occur? In my heart this happened three months ago.In your opinion, is it possible to live in the same home and continue to raise the children? Although it would be difficult, I do understand Allah’s laws and feel able to do so without breaking any of His injunctions.

What is the Shari’ah view regarding unchaperoned female Muslims – muslimat – spending nights away from home; on trips with friends or acquaintances; travelling to other cities or countries for business or education? What is the basis of such views – the inclusion of men as well as women in a group, the distance travelled or the time spent away?

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?