Fatwa ID: 03342
Answered by: Maulana Muhammad Imad Ali
Question
I am a 22-year-old sister and really need some advice on an issue I have been struggling with for many years. I decided to wear the hijab at the age of 17, Alhamdullilah it was something I had no doubt about and loved wearing the hijab. I have always dressed modestly and found the transition very easy.
I decided to put on the hijab despite knowing it will be a huge struggle because I suffer from a medical condition which leaves me with chronic headaches and nausea whenever I put my hair up or have anything pressed against my scalp. I have not been able to wear hair bands/ties or put my hair up in a ponytail or bun from childhood.
I have tried every hairstyle, hair clip, hair length, hijab style and hijab material over the past 5 years to make wearing hijab less painful. It deeply saddens me to say none have been successful. I do not have any intention to remove my hijab and so I find this very frustrating. The pain has been unbearable this past year; I come home every day with a throbbing headache which leaves me in tears.
It's impacting my studies at university and affecting my mood. I'm always irritable because of the discomfort and pain. I have tried speaking to hijabi sisters about this but I have not yet come across one who suffers from a condition as chronic as mine.
I'm slowly losing hope and really needed to reach out to someone of knowledge to advise me.
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer
I’m really sorry to hear regarding the hardship and difficulties you’re going through. First of all, as an adherent of the Islamic belief, we should know that “Every sickness has a cure”.
The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Every illness has a cure, and when the proper cure is applied to the disease, it ends it, Allah willing.” (Sahih Muslim)
The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Allah has not sent down a disease except that He has also sent down its cure.” (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)
Nausea is an uneasiness of the stomach that often comes before vomiting.
It has symptoms of many conditions such as:
- Motion sickness or seasickness
- Early stages of pregnancy (nausea occurs in approximately 50%-90% of all pregnancies; vomiting in 25%-55%)
- Medication-induced vomiting
- Intense pain
- Emotional stress (such as fear)
- Gallbladder disease
- Food poisoning
- Infections (such as the “stomach flu”)
- Overeating
- A reaction to certain small or odours
- Heart attack
- Concussion or brain injury
- Brain tumour
- Ulcers
- Some forms of cancer
- Bulimia or other psychological illnesses
- Gastroparesis or slow stomach emptying (a condition that can be seen in people with diabetes)
- Ingestion of toxins or excessive amounts of alcohol
There are several ways to try and prevent nausea from developing:
- Eat small meals throughout the day instead of three large meals
- Eat slowly
- Avoid hard-to-digest foods
- Consume foods that are cold or room temperature if you nauseated by the smell of hot or warm foods
- Rest after eating with your head elevated about 12 inches above your feet
- Drink liquids between meals rather than during meals
- Try to eat when you feel less nauseated
For further information please follow the link below:
https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/digestive-diseases-nausea-vomiting#1
There are a few ways you can treat your headache but you should know that it varies according to their types and causes. Hence, headaches could be relieved by vomiting, eating, being calm and idle, using cold rags, cooling the body, elevating the temperature, avoiding noise, etc. (Healing with the Medicine of the Prophet, pg, 85)
I would highly recommend you to consult your GP in order to learn more regarding your illness. Also, I would recommend you to purchase yourself this book “Healing with the medicine of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam)” By Imam Ibn Qayyim Al-Jauziyah. I pray Allah keeps you steadfast on His deen and also I pray Allah will take away the disease you’re suffering from, as He is the one who cures us. There is no cure but His, a cure that leaves no disease. Aameen.
Only Allah knows best
Written by Maulana Muhammad Imad Ali
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
