Source: Excerpted from the article "The Status of Women in Islam" by Sh. Yusuf Al-Qaradawi

The first contact with a woman is with one's mother,  who suffers in pregnancy, delivery,nursing and rearing of her child. History does not recall a religion or a system which honours the woman as a mother and which raises her, as Islam does.

Source: By Marjorie Cowan/"Haj and Umra"magazine/October 2009

HAJ, the Muslim pilgrimage to Makkah, is an intensely personal journey, which challenges the individual in many ways. First, there is a physical chal­lenge of having to adapt to a severe scorching hot desert climate. There is an emotional challenge of being over­joyed one moment and sometimes fearful the next; a psychological chal­lenge of adjusting to the culture; and many times even a spiritual challenge.

Source:By Nakata Khaula/www.beautifulislam.net

When I reverted to Islam, the religion of our inborn nature, a fierce debate raged about girls observing the hijab at schools in France. It still does. The majority, it seemed, thought that wearing the headscarf was contrary to the principle that public - that is state-funded - schools should be neutral with regard to religion. 

by Osman Karolia /www.MuslimVillage.com

Mahinur Ozdemir is a young Belgian Parliamentarian of Turkish heritage who fought incredible opposition to become the only member of any European parliament to wear the hijab. She also observes her five prayers, speaks five languages and has achieved an impeccable academic record. Today Mihnur is more popular than ever and has been an inspiration to a whole generation of Muslim women across the western hemisphere to wear the hijab and to also seek an education.

by Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood /www.islamfortoday.com

How can anyone justify Islam's treatment of women, when it imprisons Afghans under blue shuttlecock burqas and makes Pakistani girls marry strangers against their will? How can you respect a religion that forces women into polygamous marriages, mutilates their genitals, forbids them to drive cars and subjects them to the humiliation of "instant" divorce? In fact, none of these practices are Islamic at all.

Over the past few years, more and more Americas have converted to Islam, particularly women and I was curious to find out why.

It appears that women are converting to Islam at such rapid rates that they outnumber men 4 to 1, reports a study on female converts to Islam titled “Women and Conversion to Islam: The American Women’s experience.”

Source : Lisa Kaaki | Arab News
17 Aug 2011

During the 19th century, many women, particularly Englishwomen, were fascinated by the Arab world. Most of these female travelers, like Lucie Duff Gordon, Lady Ann Blunt, Gertrude Bell, Isabelle Eberhardt and Freya Stark, to name but a few, are known to us through their impassioned travelogues.

Source : Selma Roth | Arab News
Jeddah | 03 Aug 2011

The month of Ramadan is a month of fasting and spiritual reflection. It is also a month in which family comes together. The breaking of the fast, or Iftar, usually occurs with family and starts with eating dates and drinking water or Qahwa (Arabic coffee). After that, some families go to the mosque to pray Maghrib, after which the main meal is served, while others have the meal directly after sunset. The breaking of the fast comes with several traditional Iftar-delights. Sambusak is probably the most popular dish in Saudi Arabia.

Source : Arab News
JEDDAH | 19 Jun 2011

There were 500,000 divorce cases in Saudi Arabia in less than two decades, Asharq Al-Awsat, a sister publication of Arab News, reported Friday quoting a field study that claimed the figures represented a worrying trend.

The study, conducted by researcher Salman bin Muhammad Al-Amri, said divorces were particularly common among young couple and asked for establishing special offices for marriage counseling under the umbrella of Shariah courts.

Source | Reuters
KUALA LUMPUR | 05 Jun 2011

A Malaysian group urging wives to avoid marital problems by fulfilling their husbands’ desires has angered politicians and women’s rights groups, the New Straits Times reported on Sunday.

The Obedient Wives Club, which was set up by a group of Muslim women, said domestic violence, infidelity and prostitution stemmed from a lack of belief in God and a failure of women to satisfy their husbands.