What is the ruling on educating girls in this time?

The questioner : A question regarding the education of girls.

The Shaykh : Specify.

The questioner : Educating a girl in this time leads to many trials.

The Shaykh : In short, that means you have paved the way for the answer.
-LaughterThe Shaykh : And you requested it.

The questioner : We see that a girl should not be educated beyond the intermediate level, if that term is acceptable, what is called the preparatory stage. She should not exceed this limit. But our brothers respond to us: if we follow the system you are following, in ten years we will see that all the teachers for our girls will be from those who do not believe in Allah or the Last Day, or from the Christians. What is the comment of our honorable Shaykh on this matter?

The Shaykh : This question has been repeated many times, in person and by phone. In my belief, those who say this in a general sense do not keep in mind the agreed-upon legal rulings, or at least they are stubborn and deny that the trials I mentioned result from it. Is the answer clear up to this point?

The questioner : Is this clear up to here?

The Shaykh : As for the first objective, it is to avoid trials. In other words, I say that if they are Muslims, as your speech indicates, and I agree with this one hundred percent, if they are with us regarding such trials, and they are, without doubt, to be given the benefit of the doubt, this leads us to believe that they are not stubborn or denying the occurrence of some of these trials. Therefore, I say that it is a grave error to ignore these trials and to say what you reported about them. There is no need for us to repeat that, because avoiding trials and the places of trials is obligatory. I also believe that they do not disagree with us on this, based on his (peace and blessings be upon him) saying in the hadith we mentioned at the beginning of the day: If this is established as obligatory, then we say that this is an obligatory matter, namely avoiding the trial or trials. Good. Educating the girl in this manner that exposes her to trials is neither an obligatory matter nor a recommended matter. So how can it be said that it is permissible? In fact, some may exaggerate and say that we must educate our daughters in this education, because it necessitates that knowledge be in the hands of open sinners or disbelievers. Is this not their doubt?

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : We say that the victory of the Muslims over their enemies—may Allah have mercy on you—will not be achieved by their opposing the rulings of their religion, but rather by their following and implementing the rulings of their religion. This is also another reality that they cannot be stubborn about or discuss. So, let us say, suppose that in the end, knowledge is restricted to open sinners and disbelievers. We say, if that is the case—and I mean what I am saying, if that is the case, and it does not mean that it is certainly so, as will be explained—if that is the case, does this logic, which contradicts several established legal scientific principles, mean that we should oppose the Shari'ah so as not to allow open sinners and disbelievers to be more knowledgeable than our daughters? This means we have entered the rule that "the end justifies the means." A Muslim does not say this. Nevertheless, I say that this result which these people claim, and which you reported from them, is not necessarily a realized fact. Why? I say this result becomes a realized fact under two conditions: first, in the beginning, and second, if there are no other people who issue rulings with this opinion that you reported from them. Many of those in whose creed and knowledge we believe, at that time, we must address the reality. Will the reality be that all girls, or in other words, all guardians or awliya, will adopt the opinion of Al-Albani, for example, and those who have been vocal about this opinion? Of course, there are many opinions that contradict his. So, among these educated girls, there will be a section who are not disbelievers and not open sinners, even in our view, because they opposed our opinion in this issue. Why? Because from our correct Salafi creed, we do not see for ourselves any legal authority over the people, as long as Allah says to His Messenger: We are not controlling the people. But we say this word that is quoted from some preachers: "Cast your word and walk." You have no authority with the sword to force people to your opinion, but rather, on the basis of truth, speak clearly, and falsehood will be confused.