Fatwa No : 23216
Ruling on persuing a secular education for women

Ruling on persuing a secular education for women

I have sent an inquiry to Jamia Ashrafia Lahore regarding secular education for women. Their reply was that according to the necessities of the current times, it would be permissible for her to attain an education as long as the boundaries of the Shari’ah is upheld. My question is: what is the amount of education is necessary for our present times, (i.e. Middle, Matric, Inter, Bachelors, Master’s Degree), since a woman who has only studied up to middle school is able to understand what is happening around the world? Please help me understand this.

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

It is permissible for a woman to attain a secular education under the following conditions: (1) that she properly observes the laws of Hijab, (2) she is safe on her way and from the institute she is seeking education, (3) there is no mixing in the environment of where she learning, (4) the educators are female, or males providing that the laws of Hijab are observed during the lesson. However, one should consider pursuing the amount of education that is necessary for him/her. There is no specific limit to this according to the Shari’ah.
And Allah knows best.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

کما فی الدر: واعلم أن تعلم العلم یکون فرض عین وہو بقدر ما یحتاج لدینہ (إلی قولہ) وحرامًا وھو الفلسفۃ الخ.
وفی الشامیۃ: تحت (قولہ والفلسفۃ)۔۔۔۔ وذکر فی الاحیاء انہا لیست علما برأسہا بل ہی أربعۃ اجزاء أحدہا الہندسۃ والحساب: وہما مباحان، ولایمنع منہما إلا من یخاف علیہ أن یتجاوز ہما إلی علوم مذمومۃ الخ (ج: ۱ ص: ۴۲)
وفیہ ایضًا: وفی البزازیۃ، طلب العلم والفقہ اذا صحت النیۃ أفضل من جمیع أعمال البر وکذا الاشتغال بزیادہ العلم إن صحت النیۃ لأنہ أہم نفعًا لکن بشرط أن لا یدخل النقصان فی فرائضہ الخ. (ج: ۶ ص۴۰۷) واللہ اعلم