Assalaamualaikum ww, Can a Muslim woman go to university to become a doctor if she wears full Hijaab and Niqaab?
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وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته
الجواب حامدا و مصليا
Respected Sister, the response to your query is as follows:
The environment of university is not a place for a Muslim woman. There are many Fitnahs that are found within the university such as open intermingling of men and women often in an immodest manner. Inappropriate dressing, drugs, drinking as well as many other vices. The argument that is made that I am strong in my Imaan, I will not get tempted by any of this, is a deception of Shaytaan.
Allah Ta’ala tells us beautifully in the Quraan Majeed:
وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا الزِّنَا إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَاحِشَةً وَسَاءَ سَبِيلًا ٣٢
<<And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way» Surah Israa V32
Allah Ta’ala is not only stopping us from Zina, rather he is stopping us from anything that might take us close or fall into the actual Zina. No true Muslim woman would purposely throw herself into such a place filled with so many vices that may lead toward Zina ultimately destroying her future.
Free intermingling and close interaction with the opposite gender as well as people of different faiths being the norm of such environments, will prove detrimental to the Imaan and modesty of the girl in Hijaab. After qualifying, she is expected to do community service in order to be recognized by the government as someone qualified in that field. In doing so, she is sometimes required to relocate to another town or province in order to serve the needs of a specific community. Hence, a young woman will often be found living alone in an apartment while working in a government hospital. The number of times she will need to compromise the laws of Allah Ta’ala to attain her objective are innumerable and unjustifiable. Remember Hijaab is not just a veil, Hijaab is a state, a way of life, a protection, in it lies a woman’s honour and success!
Many people after studying in these universities end up leaving with a modernistic mindset that is detrimental to their spiritual growth and sadly many a times it leads to intellectual apostasy. May Allah Ta’ala protect us. Ameen!
Allah Ta’ala says in the Holy Quraan:
و قرن في بيوتكن
“And remain in your homes” Surah Ahzaab V33.
This is clear instruction from Allah Ta’ala commanding the woman not to leave their homes except for a valid Shar’ee excuse.
Another argument is made that there is a need for female doctors. Statistics show that around 40% of all doctors in South Africa are female. Thus, there is no need for our Muslim women to throw themselves into the lion’s den, exposing their Haya to the vultures of society and compromising the laws of Shariah to fulfil a ‘so called need’ when non-muslim woman doctors are already providing these services. There is no problem for a woman to get treated by a non-Muslim female Doctor to preserve her Hayaa.
The clear answer to your question is no, we do not find any leeway to allow our Muslim women to go to university and study medicine even though they may be in full Niqaab and I hijab.
May Allah Ta’ala grant us the Towfeeq to make Amal in that which is right, correct and pleasing towards Him. Ameen.
AND ALLAH TA’ALA IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
Answered by: Mufti Ahmad Desai
Checked and approved by: Mufti Yacoob Vally SB