SUHBAH COACHING

For Individuals, Couples and Families Powered by Ihsan Coaching

Suhbah Institute, in collaboration with Ihsan Coaching, offers one-on-one, couples and family coaching services that can help you build self-confidence, improve your relationships, support your career ambitions, or help you achieve your goals. All of our coaches are licensed therapists with a grounding in Islamic knowledge.

For a resource guide of Houston Muslim Counselors
Click below (not affiliated with Suhbah)

SUHBAH COACHING: SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

Through this partnership, we offer a modern, solution-focused coaching approach to help you overcome life’s struggles. Our online platform is a simpler way to access the support you need anytime, anywhere you need it. 

We are dedicated to filling the gap within our Islamic communities, providing access to licensed therapists that truly understand your background and unique perspective. Fully remote and accessible nationwide, our culturally competent and religiously-informed coaching staff offers coaching through an Islamic lens, respecting the unique juxtaposition of your culture and current situation.

Financial aid is available for those who qualify, please scroll to the bottom for rates and financial aid requests.

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Farhan Ahmed

Founder & Coach

Farhan Ahmed is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and the founder of Ihsan Coaching. He completed his Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Argosy University. Prior to that, he graduated from Benedictine University with a Bachelors in Psychology. Farhan has worked as a therapist focusing on anxiety, depression, OCD, marital discord, sexual intimacy, self-esteem issues, anger management, manic disorders, and spiritual/personal development.

In addition to having his Masters, Farhan also has extensive Islamic knowledge. He was part of the first graduating class of the Dream Program at Bayyinah Institute back in 2010. Afterwards, he went on to study Islamic sciences at both DarusSalam Seminary located in Lombard, IL and Darul Qasim located in Glen Ellyn, IL. There he spent time learning Islamic Jurisprudence, Aqeedah, Tafsir, higher level Arabic, and Hadith. Farhan currently has 3 years left to complete his Aalimiyah degree insha Allah. Farhan lives in the Chicagoland area with his wife and three kids.

Available for

Amena Iqbal

Coach

Amena Iqbal earned her Masters of Arts in Counselor Education from Kean University in New Jersey and obtained her Bachelors of Arts in Social and Behavioral Sciences from Seton Hall University. Amena is a Licensed Associate Counselor. She has extensive experience providing mental health and counseling services to clients coming from diverse backgrounds, varying experiences, and a range of ages. Amena has been a resource for the local Muslim community for many years and serves as a mentor and advisor for youth and adults.

Amena draws on multiple theoretical orientations and techniques in her approach with her clients. Because it is a multifaceted and flexible approach, it allows for Amena to use the most effective methods available to address each of her client’s individual needs. As a Coach, Amena will work with her clients to navigate steps towards achieving their desired outcomes. She conducts coaching sessions in both English and Urdu.

Available for

Asmaa Mahran

Coach

Asmaa Mahran holds a Master’s degree in Science of Psychology from California Southern University, a diploma in hypnosis from Hypnosis Motivation Institute College of Hypnosis, and is certified in neuro-linguistics programming (NLP). Asmaa is also certified in marriage counseling from Gottman Institute and is certified in trauma recovery. Asmaa has experience working with clients dealing with trauma, anxiety, premarital coaching, relationship and marital conflicts, victims of abusing and narcissistic relationships, self-esteem issues, and vocational and avocational-related issues.

Furthermore, Asmaa has studied Islamic Studies with various scholars both in the Middle East and the United States and has a diploma in Islamic Psychology from Islamic Online University. She is currently pursuing her PsyD Clinical psychology from California Southern University. As a coach, Asmaa enjoys working with her clients to get their desired outcomes. She conducts coaching sessions in both English and Arabic.

Available for

Shaykh Hamza Wardak

Coach

Shaykh Hamza was born in Ottawa, Canada and raised in Toronto. He completed his Degree in Islamic studies at the Islamic University of Azaadville (Dar ul Uloom Azaadville) in South Africa after completing two years locally. He then went on complete he is Bachelors in Social Work at at Ryerson University and is currently a Registered Social Worker, counseling Muslims in his local community and in the greater Toronto area. He also currently serves as the lead Imam and Principal at Masjid Al Jannah in Toronto as well as Youth Coordinator and Teacher.

When it comes to coaching, Shaykh Hamza focuses uses a solution-focused approach and provides marital coaching in accordance to Dr. John Gottman’s methodology. He currently lives in Toronto with his wife and 3 kids Alhamdulillah.

Available for

Zahida Gangat

Zahida Gangat

Coach

Zahida has a Masters in Pastoral Studies from the University of Toronto and is trained in spiritually integrated psychotherapy. She is a registered psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO).

Along with her graduate studies, Zahida has completed the six year Islamic studies curriculum from a traditional seminary in India receiving her Shahadah al-Alimiyah. She then specialized in Quranic recitation and received multiple Ijazah in the Qira’at al-‘Ashr al-Sughra – ten smaller variant readings of the Quran. Zahida is the co-founder and instructor at Al-Fatihah Learning Academy where women of all ages connect to the Quran.

What makes Zahida unique is that she provides care through a multi-cultural and multi-faith practice. Zahida is passionate about healing, empowerment and growth through self-reflection, cognitive processing and character development. As meaning making and existential processing are her essential practice, Zahida is compassionate, empathetic, nonjudgmental, & spiritually informed. She provides a safe space to share, grieve, heal & grow.

Available for

Firas Qureshi

Firas Qureshi

Coach

Firas Qureshi holds a Master in Clinical Psychology Counseling Practice from Roosevelt University and is Licensed Professional Counselor. He has experience providing therapy and assisting clients with depression, anxiety, anger management, grief, and life transitions.

Firas believes that everybody is different and no one approach works the same for everyone. Firas utilizes different theoretical orientations, CBT, person centered and solution focused therapy. As a coach he believes in finding what works best for each client, and working together to achieve their desired outcomes.

Available for

Rates & Financial Aid

The duration of standard sessions is 50 minutes long. Fees are due during the time of booking and will be collected through our online booking system. Ihsan Coaching offers a sliding fee scale to individuals and couples who may be facing financial difficulties. If a sliding fee is needed, please email us at info@ihsancoaching.com before booking your appointment.

Individual Coaching session $99 USD
Couples coaching session $125 USD
Premarital coaching (5 sessions) – $500 USD
Religious consultation session – $125 USD

Packages:
Four individual coaching sessions – $350 USD
Four couples coaching sessions – $400 USD

Questions

CAN A WOMAN STAY IN THE MASJID DURING MENSES?

CLICK HERE for video response.

The scholars’ 2 OPINIONS:
1) NO SHE CANNOT STAY IN THE MASJID UNLESS PASSING BY FOR A NEED (MAJORITY)

Evidences:
-The junub (sexually impure person after intercourse) is told explicitly in the Quran (Nisa: 43) not to stay in the masjid. And the junub, by analogy, is similar to the menstruating women because they both have an impurity that requires ghusl.
– Rasulullah (S) said to tell all women (menstruating and not) to come to the Eid prayer, but he said “let the menstruating women avoid the prayer place.”
-Rasulullah (S) in said, “The mosque is not permitted for menstruating women or anyone who is in a state of janabah (sexual impurity).”

2) YES SHE CAN STAY IN THE MASJID
(minority opinion held by Ibn Hazm, Al-Muzani a scholar of the Shafi’I madhab, Dawud Ad Dhaahiri, and modern day scholars such as Shaykh Yusuf al Qardawi and others)

Evidences:
-The hadeeth mentioned above (“The mosque is not permitted for menstruating women or anyone who is in a state of janabah (sexual impurity).”) was classed as da’eef (weak) by Shaykh al-Albaani as well as other scholars, so it is not permissible to make a ruling of fiqh based on a weak hadth.
– The ayah talking about the junub cannot be applied to the menstruating women because they are not analogous.
When Aisha is on her period during Hajj, Rasulullah (S) told her “do everything but don’t do tawaf of the kabah” which indicates she could stay at the Kabah and do worship, dua, etc.
-A slave woman who was freed set up a tent and lived in the masjid. And Umm Mihjaan (the caretaker of the masjid) would regularly take care of the masjid, and was not told to avoid it during menses.
-Therefore, these scholars are of the opinion that if it were really impermissible for a woman to not stay in the masjid, there would be an authentic direct hadith or ayah about it, as women around the messenger regularly had their period. The evidences brought by the majority are not strong enough to make it haram upon her to stay in the masjid.

CAN A WOMAN TRAVEL BY HERSELF?

CLICK HERE for video response.

Did you know that the wives of the Prophet (S) traveled together WITHOUT a Mahram from Madinah to Makkah to make Hajj?

In short – there are two opinions on the matter. 1) No, she has to have a Mahram. 2) Yes, she can, as long as her safety can be ensured, and that she uses safe public transportation where others are around.

CAN I DO 6 SHAWAL BEFORE MAKE UP FASTS?

CLICK HERE for video response

Rasulullah (S) said “Whoever fasts during the month of Ramadan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal will be (rewarded) as if he had fasted the entire year.” [Muslim]

So CAN I DO 6 SHAWAL BEFORE MY RAMADAN MAKE UP FASTS?

2 Opinions of the scholars:

1) NO, FINISH RAMADAN FASTS FIRST: Some scholars, amongst them the Hanbalis, say that one must finish the obligatory fasts of Ramadan first before you do any other voluntary fast, as obligations are more important than voluntary fasts and because the Hadith says “Whoever FASTS Ramadan and follows it up with 6 of shawal…” indicating one must finish all 29/30 of Ramadan first and foremost. Some of this group say, if one cannot do all of Ramadan make up fasts in Shawal, then they can complete their 6 Shawal in the next month (Dhul Qa’dah).

2) YES, YOU CAN DO 6 SHAWAL BEFORE RAMADAN MAKE UPS:
The other opinion of scholars (amongst them the Hanafi, Shafi, Maliki madhhab) is that the obligation of finishing off Ramadan is an obligation that is given an extended amount of time to fulfill. So since it is given a wide time of 11 months to finish the Ramadan fasts, it should NOT be limited to finishing them off in the very next month (shawal). Shawal is a limited amount of time, and Ramadan is given a long time, and therefore it would be permissible to fast 6 shawal first as long as the Ramadan fasts are accomplished throughout the next 11 months. This is from the mercy of Allah in giving us a long time to make up all the Ramadan fasts.

The precedence that we have in the seerah, is that of Aisha (R) who said that she regularly made up her Ramadan fasts in the month of Shaban, which is the month right before Ramadan. But it is also known that she did many voluntary fasts throughout the year. Scholars conclude that she thererfore saw it acceptable to do voluntary fasts, EVEN though the Ramadan make up fasts had not been completed yet.

It is also very difficult for women to make up Ramadan fasts (maybe 7-8 days) & finish shawal (another 6 days) within one month – because obviously her menses will come (maybe 7-8 days). That almost requires her to fast another WHOLE month minus her period just to accomplish Shawal. And that is definitely a great difficulty.

**Majority of scholars say you cannot combine Shawal and Ramadan make up fasts with one intention. They should be separate intentions and separate days.

NOTE: Know yourself! If you find it difficult to make up your fasts, PRIORITIZE Ramadan fasts over Shawal fasts, because an obligation is like a debt!

May Allah allow us all to fast the 6 of Shawal to get the reward of an entire year! Ameen

CAN WOMEN READ/TOUCH THE QURAN DURING MENSES?

CLICK HERE for video response.

RECITING QURAN – there are 2 opinions:
1) She CANNOT read/recite the Quran.
Most scholars prohibit women from touching the Quran based on the hadith “The menstruating woman and the one who is in a state of sexual impurity (janaabah) should not recite anything of the Qur’aan.”

2) She CAN read/recite the Quran.
This is the opinion of Ibn Taymiyyah, ibn Qayyim, Imam Malik, Bukhari, and one opinion of Imam Ash Shafii as well as many other scholars. Their argument is that the hadith mentioned above is Daeef (weak). In fact, the hadith is considered weak by almost all scholars of Hadith and therefore cannot be used in order to make a fiqh ruling. So women may recite or read the Quran, either from memory or from the Quran mushaf (book) itself.

TOUCHING THE QURAN

Scholars of fiqh agree that someone who is not purified CANNOT touch the Quran because Allah says in the Quran “None shall touch it except the purified” (Waqiah: 79). This includes the junub (sexually impure), the menstruating woman, as well as someone without wudhu.

So how can she read the Quran?
1) Use a barrier (glove, towel, pen) so that her hand doesn’t directly touch the Quran
2) Read it off of a tablet or phone as these are not considered the Quran, but rather devices that have the Quran in them.
3)Read a book which has Tafseer/translation in it – as that is not considered the Quran mushaf (book) either. Even if it contains the Arabic, if half is tafseer/translation, it is permissible for an impure person to hold.

WOMEN’S FASTING FAQ

CLICK HERE for video response.

Q:If you fast all day, and your period starts a few minutes before Maghrib, do you have to make that day up?
A: Yes.

Q: If I didn’t make up all my fasts before next Ramadan, what do I do?
A: If you had no excuse, you have to pay the penalty, Fidya as well as make them up later. (Fidya: feeding a poor person a full day’s meal per day that you missed).

Q: Do pregnant and breastfeeding women have to fast?
A: They are exempt if they fear for themselves or the baby. However, if they feel well enough, they can fast, after consulting a doctor.

Q: How do pregnant/nursing moms make up those fasting days if they have years of make ups?
A: There are multiple opinions of scholars:
1- make them all up over the years (majority opinion)
2- pay the fidya only (opinion of Ibn Abbas and Ibn Umar (R))
3- pay the fidya AND make them up over the years

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