The Mulsim Marriage Toolbox series of workshops and lectures were designed by Dr. Mohammed Sadiq, a Clinical Psychologist based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada to to assist young sisters and brothers who are planning to get married and are looking for spouses; as well, for parents who have marriage-age children.  These workshops were presented in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and New York city, New York, USA.

IWAQ was proud to invite Dr. Sadiq to present this workshop in Brisbane in November 2008.  The workshops incorporated the present realities of our Muslim culture and communities, the psychology of human nature and human relationships, as well as the authentic Islamic teachings about the subject, and interactive by design. 

The objectives were to:

1) Encourage participants to think about their own personal, family and cultural realities;

2) Check their own expectations of marriage, marital life, and their spouses to-be;

3) Understand the nature of marital relationship – what makes it healthy or unhappy; and

4) Correct their beliefs and expectations in light of the proper teachings of Islam and their personal, family and culture realities.

The 5 workshops held from 7th November - 10th November included:

1) Single females planning on marriage  

2) Single males planning on marriage

3) Parents who have marriage-age children and who are attempting to facilitate the search for the spouses and the process of marriage

4) Couples – strengthening your relationship (Q & A)

5)“Parenting – challenges and solutions (Q & A)

In addition to the workshops, lecture series included topics such as:

“Marriage: the strength and weakness of a community”

“Marriage: avoiding common pitfalls”

Marriage matters specific to reverts (Q&A)

Following this there was a Match-making session.  The objective was to assist the families – young sisters and brothers and their parents in finding approximate matches in the process of these workshops and follow-up.  The way this was conceived to work was that the young brothers and sisters and their parents filled out a Match-making form during their respective workshops.  These forms were reviewed the following day to find possible matches.  If a match was found, the young brother and sister and their parents were informed and a meeting arranged for all to meet in the next day or two.  Dr. Sadiq facilitated each meeting to guide them properly to the next steps. 

IWAQ would like to thank all the supporters (Mustafa Ally from Crescents of Brisbane, Farouk Adam from MBN, Imam Yusuf Peer from the Council of Imams, Nora Amath from AMARAH), volunteers (Management Committee of IWAQ, Nada Ibrahim) and sponsors particularly MCCA and those who wished to remain anonymous.  May Allah reward you for your efforts.