Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh

 

 

Let me answer your questions in their respective order:

 

1-    A woman can initiate divorce for valid reasons. Divorce should be last resort in case of abuse (physical or emotional), and there is no hope for reconciliation.  For details, please consult the following answers posted on this site:

 

Valid Reasons for Divorce in Islam

http://aboutislam.net/counseling/ask-the-scholar/valid-reasons-for-divorce-in-islam/

 

Can a Woman Initiate Divorce?

http://aboutislam.net/counseling/ask-the-scholar/family/can-a-woman-initiate-divorce/

 

2- The best method of memorizing the Qur’an is through an experienced teacher. You should find out if the mosque or Islamic center in your area offers hifz or memorization classes. If they do, don’t hesitate to enrol.

 

If you cannot find anyone, you may make use of online services; some of them are free – as they have advertised here:

 

http://freequranlearning.com/

 

You can email them here: [email protected]

 

If the above options are not available, then you need not despair. You can use online resources such as the following Mu’allim program as posted here:

 

http://audio.islamweb.net/audio/index.php?page=allsoura&qid=464

 

You should choose the second category listed as al-Mu’allim. It is recorded by the famous reciter Minshawi as he is teaching the children in class:

 

You should repeat after him with other children. Through daily practice and repetition you can master the art of reading and memorization.

So, I would urge you to make a resolution and start doing it without hesitation while praying to Allah to bless your efforts:

 

Here is a supplication you may read on a regular basis:

 

Allaahumma laa sahla illaa maa ja’althahu sahlan wa antha taj’alu al-hazana sahlan

 

(O Allah, nothing is easy unless you make it easy; You can certainly make the tasks easy; so make this task easy for me).

 

3- If you are traveling long distance (more than 80 km), you may shorten and combine the prayers. The way to do that is by praying Zhuhr (noon prayer) and Asr (afternoon prayer) one after the other; you may pray two rak`ahs (cycles) each at the time of either one of them.

 

Likewise, you may do so with Maghrib (sunset prayer) and Isha (night prayer). As for fajr, you should pray it on time; you are not allowed to shorten it.

 

As for facing the qiblah or direction, you should see if you can stand and face the qiblah first and then sit down and pray in any direction.

 

In other words, if you can face the direction of Ka`bah you should do so; if it is not safe, then you may face any direction you can. “God wants ease and comfort for you; He does not wish to impose hardship on you.” Hence the juristic rule: “Where there is genuine hardship the rigor of the law is relaxed.”

 

Having said this, let me stress that we ought to be diligent in performing our prayers; for, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Prayer is the deed that is most pleasing to Allah.”

 

Almighty Allah knows best.