How Do I Deal With Parents Who Are Constantly in Debt and Drain My Savings?

/in , /by


Question: I have many times given my parents my savings. They are burdened with debt because of their poor financial decisions and spending habits, and it has taken me years to recover financially. I am now the only one working, barely getting by, and my parents struggle with debt again. I have been trying to talk to them about this problem, and they told me to mind my own business. I have advised and offered them many solutions which they do not want to accept. I can’t afford it, what should I do?
Answer:
Assalamu alaykum,
Thank you for your question. Your parents are so fortunate to have a child-like you, and I pray that you can help them balance their finances. You have truly done more than your share, ma sha Allah. 

Obligation

The obligation to support parents financially only exists when the parents need it and the son can provide it. Helping your parents is one of the most praiseworthy things that you can do. If they are poor, they will be counted as one of your dependents. Please see the details here:
https://islamqa.org/hanafi/daruliftaa/7933

Balance

The best thing you can do to ensure that you don’t resent them and that your parents understand how much suffering they are causing you is to give them a fixed sum every month. This sum should not cause undue hardship to you, and they should adjust their spending within that sum. If you are currently giving too much, then give less. Discuss it with them and explain your limits. They will understand as long as you are polite, respectful and don’t get angry. Hopefully, in the future, you will make a budget for them and guide them to better decisions.

Blessings in your wealth

Please read this article in the link about bringing blessings into your wealth. Sheikh Anik Misra describes this as follows. “Having more barakah in one’s wealth does not mean the dollar amount increases- rather, that the benefits seen from that limited amount increase, reach further and last longer.“
https://seekersguidance.org/answers/general-counsel/bringing-barakah-into-your-wealth-and-life/
https://seekersguidance.org/answers/general-counsel/interest-parents-upholding-good-character/

Ask Allah

Ask Allah, Most High, to guide you and your parents in financial affairs and ask Him to facilitate these matters for you. Ask Him to let this be a means for you to draw closer to Him and pray the Prayer of Need when you feel stressed out about this. Make a good character and gentleness your only method to deal with them, and I pray that even greater good comes out of this for you from whence you never expected.

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, Tafseer, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She recently moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

Is It Right That I Trump All My Discussions With My Wife by Saying “I Am the Husband!”?

/in , /by

Question: I’m a married man. I admit to being fearful of falling into the trap of modern-day feminism where manhood and masculinity are criticized. In an attempt to uphold my status, authority, and/or power as a husband, it has come to my attention that I constantly use the “I am your husband” card on my wife even for simple matters, suggestions, discussions that she proposes. She has expressed her hurt and discomfort with this, but I insist on establishing boundaries and limits as the decision-maker.

Answer:

Assalamu alaykum,

Thank you for your question.

The trump card

I feel that you are a heartfelt person and self-confident, but I must tell you that nothing shows confidence more than a merciful man. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was the king of humanity, and he never once used his rank for decision-making with his Companions. Rather he consulted them, trusted them, and made them all feel important and worthy. Please see these links to see how he was viewed as a companion and husband:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNU5dmKs68c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XY5eZtrTMi4

Love of leadership

One of the spiritual diseases of the heart is the love of leadership (hubb al-riyasah), and we, as Muslims, are not just obliged to imitate the Prophet; may Allah bless him and grant him peace in his word and deed, but also his spiritual states. One should strive to prevent this spiritual sin from entering the heart and take one’s position with mercy and kindness and not boast it or flaunt it in the face of one’s dependents. It’s lowly, ugly, and unbecoming of good character.

Establish boundaries

You insist that you establish boundaries, but I guarantee you that the boundaries are already established. A man does not need to remind someone twice, and you would only need to re-iterate your rank if your wife is challenging it. I am certain that she is not. Rather, if your wife is an intelligent woman, she knows that two heads are better than one, and she wants to be a fruitful partner who can contribute to the family conversation. If your harshness continues, you will squash her self-confidence and creativity.

Manhood

Don’t fear the modern-day criticism of masculinity, rather strive toward being the type of man that the Prophet described, and make that your only standard. May Allah bless him and grant him peace. He said, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, “The nobility of a man is in his religion, his manhood is in his intellect, and his honor is in his character.” [Musnad of Ahmad]

A Chinese saying

Please see this excellent article about the following saying: “The higher my rank, the more humbly I behave. The greater my power, the less I exercise it. The richer my wealth, the more I give away. Thus I avoid, respectively, envy and spite and misery.” [Sun Shu Ao (Chinese minister the Chu Kingdom, Zhou Dynasty, c.600BC.)]
https://adrenalinmartialarts.net/written-word-audio-video/2019/6/16/the-higher-my-rank-the-more-humbly-i-behave

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next, and may you be pleasing to the greatest Master of all, and you pleased with Him.

[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, Tafseer, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She recently moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

 

Is It Unlawful That I Minimize Contact With My Relatives Who Constantly Ask My Family for Money?

/in , /by
Question: I live in the US, and my uncle lives in the Middle East with his family. I avoid talking to them because they abuse my family by constantly asking us for money for every single thing. We are not rich, but alhamdulillah we get by. I feel that they guilt-trip my family into sending them money all the time. For this reason, I avoid their phone calls as much as I can and talk briefly if necessary. Have I severed my bond with them, and will Allah curse me?
Answer:Assalamu alaykum,

Thank you for your question. You have not severed your ties with them, as long as you ensure to speak with them once in a while, even in the most minimal manner. If they ask you for money, ask them to speak to your parents because they control the funds.  See this link about maintaining ties of kinship:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThTswaaevbY

Grudges

With the 15th of Sha`ban have just passed, I am more worried about the grudge in your heart toward them than your family being used. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Nurse no grudge, nurse no aversion and do not sever ties of kinship and live like fellow-brothers as servants of Allah.“ [Muslim] I urge you to contemplate the following:

Need

Your parents may not be telling you the full story. Do you know exactly how poor they are? Do you know what they need the money for? What if they are asking sincerely and need help? Many people tend to have a wealthy image, even among their family and friends, when in reality, they are struggling privately.

Charity for next of kin

Charity within the family was encouraged by the Prophet; may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Zainab, the wife of Abdullah, said, “I asked the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, ‘Will it be accepted as a charity on my part if I spend on my husband and the orphans in my care?‘ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘She will have two rewards, the reward for charity and the reward for upholding ties of kinship.‘” [Ibn Majah]

Your parents will not suffer, ever, from giving charity to their family. They will only reap reward, by the grace of Allah, and become more and more beloved in the eyes of their family. This is good for everyone.

No loss

It may be that your parents have the wealth and means to support themselves because they give in charity to family. A man never knows what good deed it is that pleases Allah the most, and it may be this very deed that has secured their own financial independence by Allah’s grace and pleasure.
When one gives in charity, one will never be in a position of loss, as charity only increases one’s wealth or keeps it the same. It does not decrease.

The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “There are three things for which I swear and narrate to you about, so remember it.“ He said, “The wealth of a slave (of Allah) shall not be decreased by charity, no slave (of Allah) suffers injustice and is patient with it except that Allah adds to his honor; […] [Tirmidhi]

Avid

Be avid to give charity, so that Allah might include us with those of this verse, “Those who spend their wealth in the cause of Allah and do not follow their charity with reminders of their generosity or hurtful words—they will get their reward from their Lord, and there will be no fear for them, nor will they grieve. [Qu’ran, 2:262]

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next with an endless bounty.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, Tafseer, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She recently moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

Is It Permissible for a Man To Give His Home to His Only Son and Ignore His Daughters?

/in , /by
Question: Is it permissible for a father to give his home to his only son and not divide it among his son and daughters? Is it permissible for a father to love his only son more than his other four daughters who are helping him more than his only son?

Answer: Assalamu alaykum,

Gifts to children

Thank you for your question. A parent is obliged to give gifts equally to his children, male and female, while he is alive, while after a parent’s death, the inheritance is distributed according to the Qur’an. Someone should sit down with him and try to reason with him to give equally among the children, whether by selling the home and splitting the profits or giving the daughters the equivalent in money but not doing anything that will cause discord. Please see the details here:
https://seekersguidance.org/answers/hanafi-fiqh/estate-division-and-the-sunna-of-equal-treatment-of-children-in-gift-giving/

Communicate

A father should be careful not to love his son more than his daughters, or if he does, then not to show it. A show of excess love can sow discord and disharmony between siblings, contrary to the aims of the shari`ah. I suggest that you find someone to speak to him respectfully and explain the matter to him. The daughters should also not be afraid to speak up because they will resent them if they don’t. As a rule, never get angry, gain knowledge about the subject and bring it up politely, leaving the results in Allah’s hands. See this link for the answer to a similar question:
https://seekersguidance.org/answers/hanafi-fiqh/transferring-property-to-children-in-ones-lifetime/

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, Tafseer, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She recently moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

How Do I Deal With a Mother Who Constantly Backbites and Gossips About Family?

/in , , /by
Question: How should we treat our mother in the following situation? When I am talking to her, usually she spends most of the time complaining about her grandchildren on my sister-in-law or my brother or my father. I try to steer her to another topic, but she ends up going back to complaining or backbiting or gossiping. Sometimes I just put the phone down and let her rant without listening, checking every 30 seconds or so until she is finished.

Answer: Assalamu alaykum,

Thank you for your question. Alhamdulillah, it truly is a blessing that you have hatred in your heart towards backbiting, especially in this holy month, and that you want to help her change. Your concern is a gift in and of itself.

Help her change

The best thing that you can do is to help your mother change to become a better person. This will make her more beloved to Allah and those around her. Start with telling her, before she starts ranting, about a recent book that you might have read about the Prophet’s life, about the enormities of the tongue, about the great blessings in keeping silent. If you tell her often enough, she will start to listen, by the grace of Allah.

Tactics

In addition, you can try different tactics like changing the subject, keep bringing up your favorite topics, finding her a hobby or pastime, sending her recorded lessons that she can relate to and listen to, and if she really starts ranting, tell her that you need to go. You can also defend your siblings and tell your mom that nobody is perfect, and it doesn’t really help to complain. Tell her that the negativity will affect her health, and you don’t want her to get sick or stressed out.

Ask Allah

As with anything, ask Allah to help you and supplicate to Him to help you steer yourself and your family away from the Hellfire. He will certainly listen, and you’ll gradually see improvement. Work on yourself as well, and be sure to understand the enormities of the tongue and its repercussions. Knowledge is a light, and it can be spread to others; I pray that Allah gives you success with your sincere intention with your mother. May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.

See:  https://seekersguidance.org/answers/general-counsel/constitutes-slander-backbiting-avoid/

[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, Tafseer, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She recently moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

Am I Sinful for Not Contacting My Relatives As I Am Introverted and Socializing Gives Me Anxiety?

/in , /by

Question: I am somewhat of an introvert; being an only child I was very much accustomed to solitude and in recent years I have come to realize I also suffer from social anxiety. The thought of picking up the phone to speak to a relative is unpleasant and causes anxiety but my parents sometimes expect me to call family members. It’s not something I neglect on purpose. With my immediate family, I keep in contact. Am I sinning or do I need change?

Answer:

Assalamu alaykum,

Thank you for your question. It is refreshing to see that you care about this issue and sincerely want to do the right thing to make your parents happy.

Speaking to relatives

When you are on good terms with someone, there is no maximum or minimum limit to the interaction between the two parties. If you are on bad terms with someone, it is forbidden to cut them off for more than three days. There is no sin on you in the situation that you describe.

Increase your interaction

I encourage you to train yourself to call them a few times a year, or send them messages online, to rid yourself of this anxiety and to do the sunnah of upholding good relationships with them for the sake of Allah. I recommend joining a messaging group with your relatives to interact with them in a healthy amount but not waste time. You may also consider calling them on Islamic holidays, such as the two `Eids and the Prophet’s birthday, or the beginning of Ramadan. Phone calls need not be more than a few minutes. Make notes to look at so that you can converse on a few points.

Socialize

Socializing is very important because our religion is a social one. People need each other, they support and encourage each other, and even their worship and good deeds have more value when done together. Keep in touch, not just with relatives but also with positive, religious people maintaining friendships with good Islamic etiquette. You will need these skills after you are married, too.

Du’as

You will find that the du’as of the elders are very special and that you are very fortunate indeed if they remember you and include you in their supplication. If they can benefit you and you benefit them, you will be fulfilling the Prophet saying, “The best of people are those that bring the most benefit to the rest of humanity.“ [Daraqutni]

May Allah gives you the best of this world and the next and raise you in the company of the most beloved of all.

[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, Tafseer, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She recently moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

Was It Disrespectful To Ask My Absent Father Why He Looks for Us?

/in , /by

Question: One parent has tried hard to raise us, but the other parent abandoned us and did unspeakable, sometimes criminal things. That parent comes to see us occasionally but then verbally abuses the present parent. The other day, I asked the visiting parent, “Why are you looking for us? You abandoned us…“. My present parent says that I have a right to ask why the other parent is looking for us, considering I suffered a lot. I always try not to be rude at all, but I worry. Was that sentence disrespectful?

Answer:

Assalamu alaykum,

Thank you for your question. You must have truly suffered, having had a single parent raise you and then listen to this verbal abuse. May Allah raise your rank and give you much good.

Respect

Respecting parents is a Qur’anic injunction, regardless of what kind of people the parents are. Although one must protect oneself from even a harmful parent, one is not allowed to be disrespectful. Allah, Most High, has told us, “For your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And honor your parents. If one or both of them reach old age in your care, never say to them ˹even˺ ‘ugh,’ nor yell at them. Rather, address them respectfully.“ [Qur’an, 17:23]

High standard

The morally high standard of respect that you see in the verse above tells us that one should not even utter a word of disrespect to them, let alone a whole question that might seem rude. Although I am not belittling your suffering at all, nor am I claiming that your pain doesn’t count, I feel that your question to your parent might have been rude.

Repentance

Don’t let this eat you up, but rather, make repentance and ask Allah to guide you to treat your parent the same way you would like to be treated when you are a parent. See if you can work on your relationship with the parent for a source of healing in the long run. See these links for more info:
https://seekersguidance.org/answers/general-counsel/will-allah-forgive-someone-who-i-forgive-for-wronging-me/
https://seekersguidance.org/articles/quran-articles/serve-parents-now-late/

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, Tafseer, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She recently moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

How Can I Help My Wife Who Has To Deal With My Unjust Parents?

/in , /by

How Can I Help My Wife Who Has To Deal With My Unjust Parents?

Question: If I fear my parents are being unjust towards my wife, unnecessarily harsh, pressuring her in her decisions regarding religion and modesty (they want her to take off the hijab and have a baby), and causing her anxiety, what is my responsibility as her husband in this situation? They are often harsh with me as well, but I fear for my wife’s mental health. How can I support her while maintaining good ties with my parents?

Answer:

Assalamu alaykum,

Thank you for your question. May Allah reward you for your concern about your wife’s mental health and for maintaining good ties with your parents. It truly is a difficult balance, but it will get easier, in sha Allah.

Defend her

If your parents are being unjust towards your wife, you really must defend her and stand up for her. You don’t need to get angry or yell, as that would be sinful, but you can politely tell your parents that what they are doing is not right. Parents will respect you for it and although they may not like it at first, they will soon understand that being kind to her makes you happy, and that should be their priority.

Separate housing

You must also provide separate living quarters for her if you haven’t already. Living with in-laws is usually a burden for the wife and a couple cannot bond well unless they are alone. If you are already living apart, keep the visits short and sweet, until your parents correct their behavior. You may even visit your parents alone sometimes. Please see this link:
https://seekersguidance.org/answers/hanafi-fiqh/a-wifes-right-to-housing-seperate-from-her-in-laws/

Shift the blame

Also, make sure that your parents know that you are the one making the decisions. Tell them that you will not let her take off the hijab (this will make them blame you, not her) and that you have decided that you don’t want children yet. Tell them that it’s all in your hands and that bothering her is useless. Shift all the blame to yourself, and don’t worry, because they love you unconditionally, not her. And don’t worry, with time, they will ease off, by the grace of Allah.

Turn to Allah

And, as with any problem, ask Allah to help you. Pray the Prayer of Need, and give regularly in charity. Forge a strong relationship with your Lord, such that you turn to Him with any problem first, and then turn to your strategies. You will find that when you make Allah first, He will make you first, from His generosity. May Allah give you the best of this world and the next and bless your family.

[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafseer, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She recently moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

How Do I Tell My Family That I Won’t Join Their Family Business but Wish To Marry, Work, and Settle Abroad?

/in , , /by

Question: I am about to graduate from my university soon, and my family wants me to join the family business. I don’t want to do that; instead, I want to get married and go abroad for my masters and try to settle there with my wife. My family does not know about my intention to marry (they might disagree), but they know about my intention to go abroad. I have known the girl I want to marry for four years now, and we have been waiting for this time to marry finally.

Answer:

Assalamu alaykum,

Thank you for your question. May Allah reward you for safeguarding your religion and for taking steps to be independent.

Decisions

As a male, you do not require your family’s permission to marry whom you want, go abroad, work abroad or settle abroad. But with this independence and freedom comes responsibility and wisdom. Please pray istikhara about your decisions first to make sure they are the right decisions for you. Are you choosing this girl for her religion? How will living in a different country affect your religious life and your future children? Please see this link:
https://seekersguidance.org/tag/choosing-a-spouse/

Reflect on this Prophet saying and always intend to take care of them, however best you can. Abu Ad-Darda’ said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, ‘(Honoring) one’s father may lead one to enter through the best of the gates of Paradise, so take care of your parents, (it is so, whether you take care of them) or not.‘“  [Ibn Maja]

Tact

You must be polite, kind, and respectful to your parents when you explain what you desire. You must try to come to some compromise of visiting them when you can, and perhaps sending them money regularly if viable. You should introduce the girl and her family to your parents properly, sit down, and discuss the matter without any anger or compulsion. Please don’t force your decisions down their throats but explain your reasons. Convincing them that your decisions are best for you is the most tactful way you can do it. Also, do tell them soon so they have time to digest your announcements.

Please see these answers in full about balancing your parents’ rights with your needs:
https://seekersguidance.org/answers/general-counsel/abandon-life-build-abroad-take-care-parents/
https://seekersguidance.org/answers/general-counsel/leave-parents-allow-wife-house/

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, Tafseer, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She recently moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

Should I Pray To Get Into an Ivy League University Even Though My Parents Don’t Want Me To Go?

/in , /by

Should I Pray To Get Into an Ivy League University Even Though My Parents Don’t Want Me To Go?

Question: I would love to go to Cambridge University as I have a chance to get in. It would be a dream, but my parents don’t want that. When I first broached the subject, they got emotional, and I don’t want to displease them. My parents would prefer that I helped them by being in a nearby university. If I go to Cambridge, I can make better money and help out because we are a working-class family. Can I make dua to change their mind, or is that disrespectful to my parents’ wish? Is there anything I can do?

Answer:

Assalamu alaykum,

Thank you for your question. Truly it isn’t easy coming to a respectful balance between your wishes and your parents’ wishes. I pray that you make the best decision together and that you achieve your goal or even better.

University

To live away from home and attend the university you want, you would need your father’s permission. Although it might seem impossible, I think that you should openly talk to your father about it, alone, and see how he feels. I know many students are pleasantly surprised when they sit down with their parents and end up with a positive reaction. You could also ask him to pray istikhara and talk to other parents whose daughters went away to school. Consulting with others is a sunnah in our religion, and there is much good to be found from it. If he ends up being convinced, you could then both talk to your mother.

Du`a

Your supplications are a personal and intimate conversation between you and Allah, Most High. You can and should pour your heart out to Him and ask Him what you wish. Asking for something that goes against your parents’ desires is not disrespectful, but rather, you are putting the decision in Allah’s hands, irrespective of what you or your parents want. You are showing complete submission to what He decides for you, and you are putting your trust in Him. Supplicating to your Lord will only make your servanthood grow and increase your faith and trust in Him, so never hesitate to supplicate for what you want. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, told us, “Supplication is the essence of worship.” [Tirmidhi]

Please see this link for more information on the etiquette of du`a.
https://seekersguidance.org/answers/islamic-belief/reality-etiquettes-supplication-reader/

[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, Tafseer, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She recently moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.