If it is not permissible for a woman to study medicine under male doctors, how do we produce female doctors in society to whom believing women can go?

The questioner : Okay, from here, Shaykh, can we ask a second question?

The Shaykh : Of course, and a third and a fourth.

The questioner : In some places, like for example, regarding injections or other things, it is better if it is a female doctor. So how do we produce doctors, and there are no girls or women studying, or it is not permissible for them to work? How do we ask that women be examined by women like them, when it is not permissible at all for women to be doctors?

The Shaykh : I am saying that your question is understood, but it is not clearly formulated. I will tell you what I understood: We say that it is not permissible for a male doctor to examine a woman.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : A female doctor must examine her.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : And from another angle, we say that it is not permissible for a woman to graduate as a doctor under the supervision of men.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : Is that your question?

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : Good. If we remain where we are, that it is truly not permissible, but is our saying "not permissible" because it is obligatory that there be female doctors? We are twisting the words and saying, "Therefore, it is permissible for there to be female doctors who graduate under the supervision of doctors." We say, "No, this is not obligatory." The explanation is as follows: When we say that it is not permissible for Muslim women to study medicine because of committing a forbidden act, are we mistaken or correct? Question?

The questioner : Correct.

The Shaykh : A question is directed to...The questioner .

The questioner : Correct.

The Shaykh : So, is the remedy to change the answer?
The student : Praise be to Allah.

The Shaykh : May Allah have mercy on you.
The student: May Allah guide you and rectify your affairs.

The Shaykh : Hmm.

The questioner : Repeat, Shaykh.

The Shaykh : Is the answer, or is the remedy, to change the answer?

The questioner: No.

The Shaykh : So, what is your question then? If you agree with me that it is not permissible to issue a fatwa of permissibility.
The student : Please, Shaykh.

The Shaykh : If the answer is that it is not permissible for our women, our daughters, our sisters, or our wives to mix with men in institutes or universities in pursuit of a science that is a collective obligation, and if we say, as we mentioned earlier, that it is not permissible for women to be treated by men, but rather they must be treated by women, then the question is: Since it is not permissible, how do we achieve the goal when the other side is not permissible?

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : Namely, that women expose themselves to men... It is very clear. This is not the first time such a question is raised. The issue is resolved by what we mentioned recently: It is the foolishness of some who rebelled against the obligation of emigrating from lands of disbelief or lands of open sinfulness and transgression, and they interpreted that when we say it is obligatory for Palestinians to emigrate, it means leaving the Palestinian land as a free gift to whom? To the Jews. That is their assumption. And I say, on this occasion, three issues are before me now, and they are addressed with one answer. When we say it is not permissible for officials to deal with banks, what is the answer and what is the alternative? And when we say it is obligatory for the oppressed Muslims on earth to emigrate, they say, "Where do they emigrate?" Or, in your words, that leaving Palestine is a free gift to the Jews. And finally, our issue: When you say it is not permissible for Muslim women to study medicine in universities because they are exposed to mixing, where are the female doctors? The answer resolves all these three problems, just as He, the Exalted, said: . First, if we say it is not permissible for a Muslim to deal with banks, the objection comes: What is the alternative? The alternative is the verse: . But those who say there is no alternative want a material answer, meaning, solve the problem materially for us. So I say, I am not obligated to provide this because I am not a head of state who possesses all the solutions that help me provide a solution for such general social problems. But I mention, and remembrance benefits the believers. The Lord of the Worlds said: . You, the rich one, you have a lot of money. You say, "If I do not put it in the bank, I fear it will be stolen." Where is your faith in Allah? Where is ? Is it necessary that if you own thousands or millions, you raise a flag on the roof of the house and the place where you store this money, fearing for yourself and your money from thieves? No. Take the means, then rely on the Lord of Lords. This is regarding banks. Regarding emigration, first, emigration is obligatory for the one who is able. So, is everyone who lives among the oppressed disbelievers and polytheists able to emigrate? The answer is no, because Allah, Mighty and Majestic, excepted from those upon whom emigration is obligatory those who find no way out and find no means. This is from one angle. From another angle, and this is the crux to reach the third matter, which is female doctors: If we tell people, "Do not deal in riba (usury or interest)," who will respond, the few or the many?

The questioner : The few.

The Shaykh : The few. If we tell people, "Emigrate from Palestine or elsewhere to escape the oppression of the Jews, the tyranny of the Jews, and the open sinfulness of the Jews," will the majority respond or the minority? Undoubtedly, those who respond are the minority, because the few among the masses present today of Muslims are the believers and the pious. So, from a realistic standpoint, Palestine will not be left empty of all Muslims, not even a very small number, but less than a small number. Third and finally, we will say: When we say it is not permissible for Muslim women to study medicine in mixed environments, will all Muslim women respond?

The questioner: No.

The Shaykh : The answer is no. Most Muslim women will not respond for one of two reasons: The first reason is that they are not all obedient and following the Sharia rulings, and therefore you find them displaying their adornment. Is there anyone among the Muslims who says displaying one's adornment is permissible? No. Yet they still display their adornment. Why? Because they follow their desires. So this type of women are the ones who will fulfill the collective obligation. Did you understand?

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : This is from one angle. From another angle, they will find many like Al-Albani, or someone more knowledgeable than Al-Albani, or someone less knowledgeable than Al-Albani, and this is the reality. They will find someone who issues them a fatwa that dire necessity permits the forbidden. So they will adopt a fatwa other than Al-Albani's. Therefore, do not fear that you will ruin the world and that you will not find a single Muslim female doctor in the world. No, you will find many Muslim female doctors, but Muslim women like this and like that.
The student : Okay, in... Peace be upon you.
Another student: Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings.
Another student: And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah.
Another student: You referred to him, my Shaykh, and he was not pleased.

The Shaykh : There are fatwas from many of those who are said to be Islamic callers who issue a fatwa of obligation, not permissibility, for believing Muslim women to enter universities, not only in the medical department but in all sciences. They have their weight in the Islamic community in terms of fame. And as it is said, "For every drop in the neighborhood, there is a catcher." So whether my saying of non-permissibility or their saying of permissibility, it applies to me or to them. For every drop in the neighborhood, there is a catcher. In truth, you will find for each of the two opinions someone who adopts it among the Muslim women who are jealous of their religion. I do not mean the women who display their adornment now; we have left them aside. You will find from this type of women someone who adopts the opinion of permissibility. So, be glad or do not be glad? Be glad that you will find female doctors who mixed with men and graduated as doctors, and perhaps they were harmed or nearly harmed in their chastity, but they graduated as doctors. Therefore, the world will not be ruined if we tell Muslims, "Do not deal in riba (usury or interest)." Palestine will not be ruined, and Palestine will not be emptied if we say, "Emigrate in the path of Allah and escape the open sinfulness of the Jews, the atheism of the Jews, and the torture of the Jews," and so on. And finally, if we say it is not permissible for the Muslim woman to graduate from mixed universities as a nurse or a doctor, it is because women will graduate as nurses and doctors despite the nose of whoever issues a fatwa that it is not permissible at all, whether he is correct or mistaken. This is the answer to what preceded.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good, our Shaykh.