What is the ruling on studying in colleges where man-made laws are taught?
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The questioner : What is the ruling on studying in colleges where man-made laws are taught? May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : Do they teach other sciences in these universities where man-made laws are taught? Is that a question for you?
The questioner : I do not know, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : I think they teach other sciences there. There is no university that teaches only man-made laws.
The questioner : Yes, perhaps the intention is these man-made laws.
The Shaykh : Specialization, I mean. Some colleges in a university may specialize in this, such as economics based on laws. We say: if a person studies law in order to apply what agrees with the Shari'ah, to denounce what contradicts the Shari'ah, and to expose its falsehood and invalidity, then that is good. A person cannot know how to refute falsehood unless he knows the falsehood. However, if he studies these laws to implement them, whether they agree with the Shari'ah or not, then that is not permissible. This is the dividing line. It is said: Did you read these laws to apply them, even if they contradict the Shari'ah? If so, it is forbidden. But if you want to read these laws in order to expose their invalidity and correct what the Shari'ah has established, then there is no harm in that.
The questioner : You study only one subject.
The Shaykh : One subject does no harm. It does no harm unless a person fears that he will study it from someone who does not understand, and thus decides on these subjects that contradict the Shari'ah. In that case, he is in danger.
The Shaykh : Do they teach other sciences in these universities where man-made laws are taught? Is that a question for you?
The questioner : I do not know, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : I think they teach other sciences there. There is no university that teaches only man-made laws.
The questioner : Yes, perhaps the intention is these man-made laws.
The Shaykh : Specialization, I mean. Some colleges in a university may specialize in this, such as economics based on laws. We say: if a person studies law in order to apply what agrees with the Shari'ah, to denounce what contradicts the Shari'ah, and to expose its falsehood and invalidity, then that is good. A person cannot know how to refute falsehood unless he knows the falsehood. However, if he studies these laws to implement them, whether they agree with the Shari'ah or not, then that is not permissible. This is the dividing line. It is said: Did you read these laws to apply them, even if they contradict the Shari'ah? If so, it is forbidden. But if you want to read these laws in order to expose their invalidity and correct what the Shari'ah has established, then there is no harm in that.
The questioner : You study only one subject.
The Shaykh : One subject does no harm. It does no harm unless a person fears that he will study it from someone who does not understand, and thus decides on these subjects that contradict the Shari'ah. In that case, he is in danger.