Fatwa ID: 07406
Answered by: Alimah Saleha Bukhari Islam
Question:
I am writing to seek your advice and would like to thank you for the time you will give to my question.
I am a fourth-year female medical student from Reunion island studying in university in Reunion and I would like your opinion, please.
By the grace of Allah, I have had a successful educational journey, from primary school to high school. Once I obtained my baccalaureate, I had to choose a career path and I chose my way with a principle that guides my daily life: a Muslim must use the abilities they have to serve others.
For me, it’s not just about financial capacities, but I believe that every small gift or talent that Allah in His mercy has given us should be used to serve others: physical strength, good advice, intellectual abilities. I believe that in this way, we strengthen the cohesion of our community, which should form a single body, and by giving our best for the ummah and to honor what Allah has given us, we will contribute to better self-determination and maybe one day, insha’Allah, we might once again equal our former glory.
As for me, alhamdulillah, Allah has given me some intellectual abilities, and at 18, I had all the cards in hand to try my luck at the medical entrance exam. I chose to do so with this mindset, not out of a real passion because in reality, I am easily interested in several fields! But I wanted to choose something where I would push my limits and especially, that would be useful to my community. I saw two paths: teaching or medicine. And I chose medicine. Because I think it’s an important field in which, unfortunately, the Muslim world lags behind the West, and there is a lack of female doctors for Muslim women.
I was therefore delighted with my choice, and that’s what made me love medicine.
By the grace of Allah, I succeeded in my year, and I was able to enter medical school. I was happy because I told myself that it would necessarily be useful. And what haven’t I seen during my internships… I have seen doctors lie to Muslim patients because they did not want to take the trouble to understand their beliefs, which is a key element of good care, I have seen caregivers not paying attention to the privacy of Muslim patients because they do not understand the importance it has for us, doctors preventing patients from fasting when it would only take a few minutes to adjust the dosage and number of treatments for a short month (which a Muslim intern then did for these patients, but what about the others?), doctors insisting that Muslim women considered having “too many children” think about permanent contraception.
And I am happy because several times Allah has given me the opportunity to help a little bit to bring comfort to Muslims: by finding them a place to pray, ensuring their privacy is respected, helping patients who do not understand French to have their beliefs respected and not be given non-halal food just because they do not understand, etc.
But now, I would like to know if my studies are permissible or not.
Because someone reproached me for being in a mixed environment. It is true, there are male caregivers and male patients. For the male caregivers, I do not have to have friendly relations with them but professional ones: I exchange (never isolated because there are many people in the hospital) about files or a treatment to give. I’m careful not to be pleasing because, in any case, I’m in a working uniform with my hair and body covered except the upper part of my neck and the face. Therefore we Muslim girls wear clothes with a turtleneck to cover our necks, but we cannot cover our faces because of the French law that forbids niqab. Our exchanges are also limited to what is necessary for the patients.
For the male patients, the medical student is obliged at some point in her curriculum to observe male patients (even in Muslim countries) because there are differences with women and it is important to see the disease to learn to recognize and treat it, so take advantage of it when it presents itself, whether in men or women. Moreover, it is a particular exercise context because the men brought to the hospital are people who suffer and are in need, sometimes urgently because their life is in danger.
Thus, although the environment is not ideal and quite difficult for a Muslim woman to endure because we would prefer 100% female, I was ready to train in this environment because there are no universities for women, and because I told myself it was temporary, and to keep my objective of usefulness in mind. Also, once graduated, I could practice as I please.
I also want to mention that my studies are part of a personal journey, but I am well aware that in religion young people are encouraged to marry and start families for the prosperity of the ummah of Muhammad (saw). That’s why if Allah chooses to grant me this rizq one day, I would have no difficulty in reconsidering my priorities and stopping working to take care of my children and my husband because they have rights over me and I have duties towards them.
As for my question, the person I spoke with thinks I should stop my studies because of the mixed environment and male patients, and that’s why I would like your scholarly opinion…
Because I have already completed my first cycle of training and received the diploma. I tried to apply in 2 Muslim countries but it was not possible. So I stayed to train in France, which is, after all, a world pioneer in medicine, so I am learning a lot.
JazakAllah for your help and explanations !
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Hijab is addressed in the Quran and refers to both men and women dressing, speaking and conducting themselves in a manner according to Islam. Hijab was established to protect one of the basic human rights, the right to a progeny and thus, sexual activity in Islam is regulated within the sanctity of marriage. Therefore, contact between men and women in public and private places is structured around rulings based on this principle. Whether in a public or private space, by adhering to the Islamic rulings alongside adopting modest behaviour, one can establish respectful boundaries to live by.
Since free mixing between men and women is widespread in many countries around the world, it is difficult to maintain a segregated environment aligning with Islamic laws. Therefore, a concession is granted allowing Muslims to study, teach, and work in mixed environments where there is no alternative. A necessity can call for a relaxation or dispensation from the original rulings. There is a fundamental principle in Islamic jurisprudence that rests on this understanding:1
“Necessity permits prohibitions.”
[Al Qawaid Al-Fiqhiyya, Dar Makkah p.16]
However, Muslims are required to adhere to the Islamic rulings as much as is possible within their circumstances. For example, one must refrain from engaging in unnecessary conversation with the opposite sex, and not go beyond what is necessary for the purpose of study or work. To have this level of consciousness requires one to practice mindfulness. Ibn al-Qayyim, in his book Madārij al-Sālikīn describes a way we can practice mindfulness:
As for the remembrance of being watchful, it is like the believer saying: Allah is with me, Allah is looking at me, Allah is observing me, and other such words used to strengthen one’s presence with Allah. In it is care for the well-being of the heart, maintaining good manners with Allah, being wary of mindlessness, and seeking protection against Shaitan and the lower self.2 3
When there are no laws in place for regulating mixing between the two sexes in an environment, then it becomes necessary for the Muslim to self-police and practise mindfulness of being in Allah’s presence. Every adult and sane person has the capability of identifying right from wrong, yet what people struggle with the most is being led by their desires. The constant battle of jihad against the self (nafs) is an everyday struggle that can be tackled by practising being mindful of Allah.
Considering the above, there is no need for you to give up your studies, especially since you are a fourth-year medical student and quite progressed in your studies. Both male and female medics are required for meeting the needs of a community, more so in a non-Muslim country. The service provided by your profession, if approached with a noble intention can earn you immense reward as it is fulfilling one of the communal duties of society. It is recognised as a Fard al-Kifayah, a duty which if not fulfilled by a few then all Muslims will be held accountable.
With regards to work conditions, if you have a choice then it’s more befitting to serve your own gender and stay within the Islamic boundaries. However, in medical training and emergencies where for example male doctors are unavailable then female doctors are permitted to treat male patients and vice versa, with certain precautions in place.4 5
1 (الضرورات تبيح المحظورات).
2 وَأَمَّا ذِكْرُ الرِّعَايَةِ: فَمِثْلُ قَوْلِ الذَّاكِرِ: اللَّهُ مَعِي وَاللَّهُ نَاظِرٌ إِلَيَّ، اللَّهُ شَاهِدِي. وَنَحْوُ ذَلِكَ مِمَّا يُسْتَعْمَلُ لِتَقْوِيَةِ الْحُضُورِ مَعَ اللَّهِ، وَفِيهِ رِعَايَةٌ لِمَصْلَحَةِ الْقَلْبِ وَلِحِفْظِ الْأَدَبِ مَعَ اللَّهِ وَالتَّحَرُّزِ مِنَ الْغَفْلَةِ وَالِاعْتِصَامِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ وَالنَّفْسِ.
ص406 – مدارج السالكين ط الكتاب العربي – درجات الذكر – المكتبة الشاملة
3 وَالْأَذْكَارُ النَّبَوِيَّةُ مُتَضَمِّنَةٌ أَيْضًا لِكَمَالِ الرِّعَايَةِ وَمَصْلَحَةِ الْقَلْبِ وَالتَّحَرُّزِ مِنَ
الْغَفْلَاتِ وَالِاعْتِصَامِ مِنَ الْوَسَاوِسِ وَالشَّيْطَانِ، وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ.
ص407 – مدارج السالكين ط الكتاب العربي – فصل الدرجة الثانية الذكر الخفي – المكتبة الشاملة
4 (ويجوز) أيضاً (للطبيب أن ينظر إلى موضع المرض منها) ، وينبغي أن يعلم امرأة مداواتها؛ لأن نظر الجنس إلى الجنس أسهل، فإن لم يقدر يستر كل موضع منها سوى موضع المرض، ثن ينظر ويغمض بصره ما استطاع، لأن ما ثبت بالضرورة يتقدر بقدر الضرورة، وصار كنظر الخافضة والختان؛ هداية.
ص163 – اللباب في شرح الكتاب – كتاب الحظر والإباحة – المكتبة الشاملة
5 وفي ” فتاوى الولوالجي “: لا يحل النظر إلى ما تحت السرة إلى الركبة من الرجل والمرأة لأحد من غير عذر، فإذا جاء العذر حل النظر. والأعذار:
ص138 – كتاب البناية شرح الهداية – نظر الطبيب للمرأة الأجنبية – المكتبة الشاملة
Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.
Written by Alimah Saleha Bukhari Islam
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
