Minhaj Sisters UK has organised a 4-week course titled ‘Al-Nasiha – Strengthening the Family Unit’ with Dr Ghazala Hassan Qadri to start the year. The third session commenced with an introduction by Sister Ifrah Khalid (Vice President of Minhaj Sisters UK). This was followed by Dr Ghazala addressing the third session on how to express love in a marital relationship.

Dr Ghazal Hassan Qadri said in her lecture that love is an important element of married life. If we love our spouse, then it is essential that we do not keep that love hidden in our hearts but express it through both our words and our actions. Expressing kindness and affection towards your family is an essential part of our belief. To develop love and affection between you and your spouse, it is important to care for one another when it is most needed and to be attentive to each other’s needs. We have become so consumed with other areas of life and responsibilities that we do not take the time to give each other these kinds of loving and affectionate gestures.

She said that love begins with a smile. Greeting your spouse with a warm smile can make a difference in how the rest of the day will continue. Dr Ghazala referenced Hadiths in which the Holy Prophet (PBUH) would sit down and share his meals with his wives and family, He (PBUH) would spend time with them and through that, express his love and affection. In the same way, it is extremely important for couples to make time for one another and make the effort to create intimacy at every opportunity. Many relationships can go through a period of anxiety, where one spouse may feel insecure about their relationship, thus it is very important to engage in small acts of affection that can go a long way in assuaging anxiety and tensions.

Dr Ghazala then went on to explain that spending exclusive time with one another is another important aspect to develop and maintain love. The key thing is to spend some quality time together, to share hobbies, or even go out for a walk. For the sake of creating a personal connection, couples need to take an interest in each other’s lives. Communication should not just be carried out when one needs something, but it should also be done for the sole purpose of giving one another company. This is how love is created when you make the effort to take an interest in the other person!