Is it permissible to study in mixed institutes and colleges, where if a young man leaves them, he is compelled to perform military service?

The questioner : Is it permissible, O Shaykh, to attend mixed institutes and colleges?

The Shaykh: No.

The questioner : Is it permissible? And in the case of, for example, leaving them, one is subjected to compulsory service, such as in Iraq?

The Shaykh : The end does not justify the means. The Muslim, as He the Exalted said: As for committing what is forbidden or prohibited by the Shari'ah to escape a problem we might fall into, this is not permissible except from the perspective of taking the lesser of two harms, provided the Muslim is certain to fall into one of them. In this case, he must take the lesser of the two harms. However, what is happening today: yesterday I was asked by an Egyptian who said, "My father and mother told me to return to Egypt, and they are telling me: you must shave your beard, because the intelligence services there know how to pressure Muslims due to some of them stirring up revolutions and fitnah there against the unjust ruler." So I answered him that it is not permissible, because many bearded men go there, and they interrogate them, believe them, and let them go. So, in order that we might fall into a problem, we are now preemptively throwing ourselves into a problem, which is one of the greatest problems, namely disobedience to Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Even the Algerians, when, unfortunately, they are under very severe pressure, perhaps without parallel in the entire Muslim world, they tell me: "If we go out in the morning to the mosque and they catch a bearded man on the way, they take his identity documents, ID, or passport or whatever, and tell him: 'Go shave your beard, take off your shirt, and come back to get your documents, or we will shave your beard ourselves against your will.'" I say: from the perspective of taking the lesser of two harms, you must not respond to their requests. Let them shave your beard themselves against your will. But you do not say to them: "Here, I have come to you willingly." Do not do this. Necessities are to be estimated by their degree. This is part of the fiqh that Islamic preachers today must know, who tell you: "My brother, necessities permit the prohibited." But "necessities permit the prohibited" is restricted: "Necessities are to be estimated by their degree." Therefore, it is not permissible to hasten to commit a prohibited act out of fear of falling into a prohibited act, unless one is certain of that, in which case one commits the lesser of the two harms. What is happening today of aggression against the freedoms of Muslims and imposing non-Islamic dress, such as shaving the beard and removing the shirt—although the shirt is a very easy matter compared to shaving the beard—it is not permissible for a Muslim to fulfill the desire of a fasiq or a disbeliever willingly, but only under compulsion, and under compulsion they do that. I know that one of my brothers-in-law in Damascus was in the army, meaning in compulsory service as they call it today. He was bearded and lived for a period performing this service with his beard. They put a chief over him, as we say in the Levant, and he sent three elements to shave his beard against his will. He understood from their words that they were not Druze or Alawites, but rather people of the Sunnah. So he said to them: "Men, stop your shirk and do not leave us to fight each other now, while we are united by one religion and one faith." By Allah, it seemed they were reasonable, so they responded to him and left, and apologized to their chief. So he sent three Alawite elements instead, and he entered into a battle with them, truly. He appeared to be strong in build, but one cannot overcome three. Eventually, they overpowered him, tied him to a tree, and shaved his beard against his will. In the end, they put him in military prison, according to the regulation that whoever disobeys orders must be imprisoned. He was imprisoned for one or two weeks, unfortunately. When they released him, he called a senior commander among his relatives, perhaps his uncle, may Allah know, if my memory does not fail me. He said to him: "What is the meaning of this pressure? This has no relation to military regulations. One shaves and one does not. What is the meaning of this harassment and fighting against the religion?" Apparently, this senior officer contacted some of the high authorities, and they found it wise, apparently for the first time, to grant the freedom that no soldier should be forced to shave his beard or grow it; let him be in his freedom.
And thus, the Muslim does not hand himself over to sin willingly or under compulsion, as came in the interpretation of His saying, the Exalted: in the story of Bilal and 'Adi ibn Hatim. So Bilal was patient, and the story of Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) is well known. As for 'Ammar, it appears his resolve was less than his brother Bilal's resolve. And it seems the polytheists noticed the torture inflicted upon him, so they offered him that he would insult the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and curse him until they released him. So he did it. As soon as they heard the cursing, they left him. And soon his divine mind returned to him: "How did I do this? I have insulted my Prophet, by whom Allah guided me." So he thought to himself that he would go speak and tell the Messenger the story, to find an exit. So he came to the Messenger (peace be upon him) and mentioned to him what they had done to him, and that he did not escape them and their torture except after saying about the Messenger that he was a sorcerer, a poet, and a liar. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), as one who does not act on emotions but rules by the Shari'ah and reason simultaneously, said to him: He said: "I find my heart at ease with faith." He said: If they return to the torture, return to the cursing as long as your heart is at ease with faith. So this is how the Muslim does not expose himself to torture and destruction, nor seek it, nor seek to disobey his Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), but rather on the principle: "One who compels his brother is not a hero." This is the answer, if Allah wills.

The questioner : May Allah reward you.

The Shaykh : And may He reward you.