FAJR REMINDER: SPEAK TO HER WALĪ FIRST By: Umm Affān Dhū al-Qa'dah 28, 1447 (16-May-2026) After the Prophet (ﷺ) accepted Sawdah Bint Zam’ah Ibn Qays (Raḍiyallāhu ‘Anha) to be his wife, Khawlah Bint Ḥakīm (Raḍiyallāhu ‘Anha) spoke to Sawdah’s father, Zam’ah, on behalf of the Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ). In this, there is a profound lesson for us all. Nowadays, when a man and a woman intend to marry, people around them often know about the relationship before the parents do. This is completely contrary to the proper Islāmic manner. When a man desires to marry a woman, the first person he should approach is her Walī (father or male guardian), because the marriage cannot proceed without his approval. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “There is no marriage except with a guardian.” [Sunan At-Tirmidhī 1101] In another narration, the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Any woman who gets married without the permission of her guardian, her marriage is invalid, her marriage is invalid, her marriage is invalid.” [Sunan At-Ti...