What is it and where did it come from?
Consider Valentine's Day, a day that after dying out a well deserved death in most of Europe (but surviving in Britain and United States) has suddenly started to emerge across a good swath of Muslim countries. Who was Valentine? Why is this day observed? Legends abound, as they do in all such cases, but this much is clear: Valentine's Day began as a pagan ritual started by Romans in the 4th century BCE to honor the god Lupercus. The main attraction of this ritual was a lottery held to distribute young women to young men for "entertainment and pleasure"--until the next year's lottery.

 

Among other equally despicable practices associated with this day was the lashing of young women by two young men, clad only in a bit of goatskin and wielding goatskin thongs, who had been smeared with blood of sacrificial goats and dogs. A lash of the "sacred" thongs by these "holy men" was believed to make them better able to bear children.

BY Imam Abu Hamid Muhammad Al-Ghazali

Imam Ghazali (May God Shower His Mercy Upon Him)’s Arabic Book on the Subject from His Three-Volumes Collection of Short Books "Majmu’a Rasail Imam Ghazali"
Translated into English By Irfan Hasan From the Urdu Translation of the Book

TRANSLATOR’S NOTE:
The English translator has added all explanations given within square brackets and parenthesis and assumes all responsibilities for any mistranslations and seeks Allah’s forgiveness for that. All text in Arabic has been transliterated into English and has been italicized. Urdu translation of this book of Imam Ghazali was done by Sadruddin Hasan Amritsari and published by Dar-ul Isha’at, Pakistan. Amritsari’s Urdu translation was utilized for doing this English translation.

Answered by Ustadha Zaynab Ansari

I'm completely against watching TV due to the content shown, my wife also agrees with this principle Alhumdulillah but we fear how our attitude to TV could make our children rebel against us as it is considered the "norm" in society hence when my children do go to nursery, school, even the hospital, they will see the TV.

When we go to my parents house then there is also a TV and my son ends up watching the TV for hours on end. I have already spoken to my parents to not allow my children watch the TV but my wishes are not respected. Even to the extent that once my mother quickly switched off the TV because my mother realised that I was comming downstairs, this was witnessed by my wife. My parents have even made du'a against me saying that watch how your children treat you when they get old, they will make you cry only because I moved my wife out of the house as there was fitnah when we used to live together in my parents' house.

Things new fathers can do to help their wives when breastfeeding.

1. Make sure she has plenty of water to drink at all times. She will need a jug of water by her bed at night, and a glass, you can refil it if it needs refilling and also pour out a glass for her when she is breastfeeding.

2. When the baby is tiny and newborn, especially if it is the first baby, she may have difficulty getting the baby to start feeding, and may feel upset and worried that she can't do it. Reassure her as much as she needs, try to offer practical help (like fetching extra pillows to support her and/or the baby)

The status of the Muslim woman in Islaam is a very noble and lofty one, and her effect is very great in the life of every Muslim. Indeed, the Muslim woman is the initial teacher in the building of a righteous society, providing she follows the guidance from the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Since adherence to the Qur’aan and the Sunnah distances every Muslim - male or female - from being misguided in any matter...

The secret of her importance lies in the tremendous burden and responsibility that is placed upon her, and the difficulties that she has to shoulder - responsibilities and difficulties some of which not even a man bears. This is why from the most important obligations upon a person is to show gratitude to the mother, and kindness and good companionship with her. And in this matter, she is to be given precedence over and above the father...

The reports of the seerah (Prophet’s biography) indicate that Khadeejah bint Khuwaylid (may Allaah be pleased with her) was a determined and intelligent woman, and she was also rich and had several kinds of trade. The men of her people were keen to marry her. She did not engage directly in trade herself, rather she used to employ men to work on her behalf.

News reached Khadeejah of the honest and trustworthy Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him); she heard a great deal about his honesty and trustworthiness, so she wanted to hire him to work for her and do trade on her behalf. She sent someone to him with an offer of work, and he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) agreed to that.

Although many Muslims may right now be in failing marriages and on a fast track to divorce and its terrible consequences, there are many ways to put their marriage back on the right track if the husband and wife are sincere in their desire to reconcile.

The following principles can be used by Muslims whose marriages are already in trouble or by Muslims who would like to avoid trouble in their marriage.

As you know most masjids now and Islamic communities are doing what is called premarital counseling...this is before engagement or nikkah or anything just for the 2 prospects to really know one another. There is usually an imam who does 3 sessions or even more of premarital counseling in which the 2 individuals have to respond to a series of questions. Below is 100 questions that might be asked of your future prospect...it is to your advantage (especially sisters) to give this to your future husband if be so that you can get a better understanding of him. However, I recommend that ya'll do it with an imam b/c it is less bias and the true colors come out.

When I went to ICNA this past weekend, they were talking about the importance of premarital counseling. Most states are doing it now so you might want to contact your local masjid and see if the imam or marriage counselor has something of the sort.