Shaykh Uthaymeen on Mixing in University
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked:
Is it permissible for a man to study in a mixed university where men and women mix in one classroom, knowing that the student has a role to play in calling people to Allaah?
He replied:
What I think is that it is not permissible for anyone, man or woman, to study in a mixed school, because of the grave danger that it poses to his chastity, integrity and morals. No matter how great a person’s integrity, morals and innocence, if a woman is sitting beside him on the seat – especially if she is beautiful and unveiled – he can hardly avoid fitnah and evil.
Everything that leads to fitnah and evil is also haraam and is not permitted. We ask Allaah to keep our Muslim brothers safe from such things which will only bring evil, fitnah and corruption to their youth. If there is no other university apart from this one, he should go and study in another city or country where this mixing does not happen
I do not think that this is permissible but others may have a different opinion.
SubhanAllah, perfect timing.
Jazaaki Allah Khayr for the posting.
SubhanAllah! I cannot avoid this because I live in the West and there is no Univeristy in the country I am in but they are all mixed. I cannot make Hijrah on my own as I need a mahram.
Jazak’Allahu khairan for the post though.
it is not easy for a single sister to get married. meanwhile she has to work and still learn her deen.
Dear Sister Bint Abdir Rahman,
Regardless of where we find ourselves, it is our duty as Muslims to submit perfectly to the Will of Allah, wherever we find ourselves.
I can testify to the fact that it is possible to avoid mixing in the West (though this is not an endorsement for staying in Dar-Al-Kufr). This is a common argument that people put forth to justify their passive acceptance and participation in activities that are contrary to the shar’iah.
For the Muslim woman, to leave the safety of her home justifiably she has to meet certain conditions, such as:
(1) Complete Hijab
(2) Necessity
(3) No Free mixing
Also, keep in mind the following verse from Al-Ahzab:
“It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allâh and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allâh and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed in a plain error. (Al-Ahzab 33:36)”
Also, remember the dua’ of Nabi Yusuf, alayhi salam, when he was beset with trials:
~ He said:”O my Lord! Prison is more to my liking than that to which they invite me. Unless You turn away their plot from me, I will feel inclined towards them and be one (of those who commit sin and deserve blame or those who do deeds) of the ignorants.” (Yusuf 12:33)
And lastly,
~ Allâh burdens not a person beyond his scope. He gets reward for that (good) which he has earned, and he is punished for that (evil) which he has earned. ” (Al-Baqarah 2:286)
Barak Allahu Feekum Jamee’an
- Umm Talha
Indeed, where are the torture chambers?
Due to which we abandon our faith?
(Abraham) said: “And who despairs,
of the Mercy of his Lord, Except
Those who are Astray?” [15:56]
And Allah has set forth an example for those who believe,
the wife of Fir’aun (Pharaoh), when she said:
“My Lord! Build for me a home with You in Paradise,
and save me from Fir’aun (Pharaoh) and his work,
and save me from the people who are Zalimun
(polytheists, wrong-doers and disbelievers in Allah).” [66:11]
And what an excellent example, was she.
jazakumallah khairan i agree fear the dunya
Jazak’Allahu Khayrah sisters for your replys.
May Allah reward you. I totally believe and understand what you say however, how can one practice this in Dar-ul-Kufr?
Short Answer = make your intention to make hijrah (and work for it). In the meantime, do not work or go to school in a mixed setting. Simply put, it is haram, and not a place for a Mu’min.
As Sh. Yahya Al-Hajoree says, don’t expect to emerge pure from such a setting. Rather, you will emerge toppled over and weak (in your iman).
When it comes to University, if you’re not willing to be creative (i.e. seek alternative means to get your education), I would say just get out. Because this Dunya and all it contains is not worth earning the anger of Ar-Rahman.
Verily, the Promise of Allâh is true, let not then this (worldly) present life deceive you, nor let the chief deceiver (Satan) deceive you about Allâh. [31:33]
This last point may seem unreasonablly constrictive now, but Subhan’Allah – contemplate for a minute the regret you would feel standing before your Rabb on Yamm Al-Qiyamah. How pathetic would our excuses and “logical reasoning” seem then (i.e. there was no other way, everyone else was doing, I was living in the West, etc.)
And Hell will be brought near that Day. On that Day will man remember, but how will that remembrance (then) avail him? (Al-Fajr 89:23)
When I was making my decision to leave the mixed-university setting (due to evidence from the Qur’an + Sunnah + Examples from the Salaf + Explanations from Scholars) there were several verses that I kept coming back to:
______________________________________________________________
NO OPTION IN SUBMISSION:
~ It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allâh and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allâh and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed in a plain error. (Al-Ahzab 33:36)
______________________________________________________________
ALLAH IS AR-RAZZAQ
~ And whosoever fears Allâh and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine (At-Talaq 65:2-3)
_______________________________________________________________
NOT DESPAIRING OF THE MERCY OF ALLAH:
~ [Ibrâhim] said: “And who despairs of the Mercy of his Lord except those who are astray?” (Al-Hijr 15:56)
Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullah. Whilst i agree with the points umm talha has brought forward, i must question “make your intention to make hijrah (and work for it)?! where is the practicality in that? work towards making hijrah how??? for hijrah, one needs money, a lot of it in fact to secure a safe settlement for one’s family… how do u make that money wen almost all avenues towards that is in free mixing evironments? and it would be pathetic to say/advice anyone to rely on the government’s free money to make hijrah however sadly to say that’s exactly wat majority of our salafi brothers and sisters are doing!in the field of EDUCATION, shaykh falah ismaeel has said that it is permissable to go into institutions wer free mixing is unavoidable during a q&a session at masjid salafiah, birmingham, 2007. because even in the arab world, save ksa, it is the same case as the western world.
I agree with Umm Aadam. Sisters hw can we wrk for hijrah? Alhamdullilah I have finished college nw anyway but I am wary about university, what if my intention is to gain a midwifery degree and make hijrah then with this profession and wrk in a womens hospital?
Im confused because I dnt think its possible to have enogh money to make hijrah or even live without free-mixing!
JazakAllahu Khayran.
Umm Adam your comment “make your intention to make hijrah (and work for it)?! where is the practicality in that?”, basicaly fundamental islamic teachings explain that… “Actions are but by intentions, and every man will get that which he intended, he who migrates for the sake of Allah and His Messenger, then his migration was for Allah & His Messenger, and he whose migration was to achieve some worldy benefit or to take some woman in marriage, his migration was for that which he migrated.” Said by the Messenger of Allah Sallilahu Alayhi Wasalaam on the authority of Umar Bin Khattab Radiallahu Anhu, Related by Bukhari & Muslim… So if you make your intention pure then you shall be judged based upon your intention…like it is clearly articulated in the above hadith… Subhan’Allah i have never seen such excuses from Muslim females, I mean we are blessed to have the faith of Islam whereas Allah has let other fall astray and we are trying to bend and change islamic ruling to accomidate ourselves? I personally dont know Shaykh Faisal, but just because it happens in the arab world doesnt mean that it automatically because Halal, its not imevitable… snow in anartica is inevitable, moving to another country and practising your secular education isnt… And the whole issue of Money? Are we not satisfied as Allah as our Wakeel? Tell me, Did the Muhajireen have money when they up and left Mekkah to make hijrah with the Prophet Sallilahu Alayhi Wasalaam… some only took what they hand on them and made the journey, some by camel others by foot… Allah mentions in the quran that for every hardship there is relief… Bint Abdir Rahmaan and Umm Adam, do you not see that this is a trail upon you? that Allah is testing you? Who is going to realize this haram act of intermingling and make Tawbah… ??? For we all have to make Tawbah…
Jazakilahu khayr sister Umm Uthaymeen .
I hope Allah forgives us ameen.
I was just stating that although I am eager to make hijrah, currently I do not work and I am wary of going a mixed university (they are all mixed) where I live. I have no income at the moment and I my parents who are old need money, I am trying to look for a suitable job but it difficult!
I cant see myself walking to make hijrah like in the time of the prophet salalahu alyhi wasalaam.
Inshallah A ll make a way.
when a person moves out and goes into an atmosphere of such evil and fitna then the shaythans undertakes sustained attacks from all angles and it get’s worse as time goes on! especially as the girl will have no mahrams around and is’nt it in islam that a girl can only travel and live out with a mahram?If one can travel to and from university then that would be the best for a person!Providing the university is at a travelable distance!(don’t know if that word travelable exists)
In Abu Daoud, V.4, Hadith No. 5274, it is narrated upon the authority of Abu Usay Ansari that he heard the Messenger Muhammad (saw) say when he saw people mixing together in the street, “O men and women separate yourselves, it is not allowed for you to be in the same place.”
Haram relationships,affairs and flings etc begin from first the intermingling of the sexes! and it may start off with innocent friendships but ends with both people getting terribly hurt especially women! and people may end up doing things that they later regret! A lot of the times guys and girls end up having so called “innocent friendships” and enevitably end up getting very close to each other because a guy and a girl can never be friends only because shaythan is always third party!
In Muslim and Abu Daoud, it is narrated that the Messenger Muhammad (saw) said: “Whenever a man and a women are alone shaytan is with them.”
Then when their too close to each other they may end up doing regrettable things! These things happen especially in places like universities where there is too much freedom and evil influence all over the place and the free mixing of sexes! PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE! Why put ourselves in the situation in the first place where haraam may occur?
Ive heard of many cases of men stalking girls at university! How is a women supposed to protect herself if she happens to be unlucky enough to either be stalked or even attacked by a pest or a drunk male student? In the vicinity of the university their are always predators around looking for prey and they do target vulnerable women! How is a women going to protect herself from these possible threats? isnt this the reason that it is haram for a women to travel out so far alone? and to live out alone? She has to be with a mahram!
Shaykh ibnu Baz on Mixing in University
http://www.ibnbaz.org.sa/audio/noor/021709.mp3
Subhan’Allaah, this lyf is too short to be even disputing in such matters wa Allahu ‘Alim!! I agree university’s in the west are full of FITNAH!! May Allaah make it easy for the ummah to live and practice their religions without getting confused and brainwashed in such societies Ameen!!