Question
salaams.
I am extremely disappointed with the ulema of today’s time. They are just too narrow minded and don’t allow us girls to live the way we want to. They want to poke their noses everywhere.
I want to go study in the university but my father is also narrow minded like ulema and his not allowing me to do.
All my friends are studying and in a few years time they will start earning. And here i am like a useless waste of time sitting at home.
Why are fathers like that. And really it is the ulema who are brainwashing our father’s. They can’t see us girls progress.
Because of their narrow mindedness girls are getting divorced and they have no one to fend for them. Had they gotten a degree this would never have been the case.
I need your advices please and also a small request to my father to allow me to go and fulfil my dreams please!!!!
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Sister in Islam,
We apologise for the much belated response.
Your attitude towards the selfless efforts of many ‘Ulama worldwide is unfortunate. Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam mentioned:
إِنَّ العُلَمَاءَ وَرَثَةُ الأَنْبِيَاءِ
“Verily, ‘Ulama are the heirs of the prophets.”[1]
The prophets were sent down upon earth to guide the masses towards the correct direction. Their efforts were selfless and their sacrifices were innumerable. Their mission was to shepherd humanity towards the obedience of Allah, and ultimately towards Jannah. They went out uninvited towards people from every walk of life and advised people in every possible location and condition. In other words, they ‘poked their noses’ everywhere uninvited. This was for the unseen benefit of the people.
‘Ulama today follow in the very steps of the prophets. They feel no joy in being on the receiving end of the masses whilst advising them. They are merely fulfilling their responsibility to Allah and his prophet. They have our success in the Aakhirah at heart. They wish to shepherd us in the very direction that the prophets shepherded their masses. They wish to save today’s humanity from the very calamities that befell those that abused and cursed the prophets. Their presence amongst us is a great source of mercy. Their disappearance from the community is enough to turn us away from belief in Allah towards Kufr.
Life in this world is a test from Allah. The test is to see whether one spends his life according to the commands of Allah or not. The responsibility of the ‘Ulama is to encourage and usher humanity in this direction. The concept of ‘live the way we want to’ is not for a believer. This mindset should be of one who does not believe in the hereafter and rejects accountability in the court of Allah. For them, the world is a place of entertainment and enjoyment.
Your father’s judgement is not at all erroneous. Frankly speaking, we are all aware of the Fitnah that is present in colleges and universities worldwide. We do not need to provide statistics to this effect. Attending such universities is playing with fire, as one is constantly bombarded by temptation. Modesty (Hayaa) is absent from such places and one will easily fall prey to the customs and ideologies of the west.
Furthermore, in today’s climate wherein atheism and the like are on the rise, entering university proves to be detrimental to one’s faith.
The Ulama do realise the need for education for both males and females, however, the harms of attending university heavily outweigh the potential benefits. This is applicable to both males and females.
We must also acknowledge the roles that each gender is meant to assume. The male is meant to be the breadwinner of the house whereas the female is meant to be the homemaker. Neglect of these traditional gender roles has led to a collapse in the tried and tested familial structures.
Nevertheless, your father only has your best interests at heart. He has given priority to your Deen over some worldly gain, and rightfully so. We feel that your desire to attend university can easily be achieved by pursuing a degree online. There are a plethora of online universities offering distance learning courses. That should be more than sufficient. In this way, your Deen will be protected, and you will also be able to obtain a degree.
Progress is not measured by one’s qualifications or earnings. A Muslim’s progress is based in one’s devotion to Allah, his/her compliance with the laws of Islam and most importantly, preparation for the Aakhirah. The earnings of the world will remain behind in this world. Whilst your friend’s may be earning money, you may well be earning your Aakhirah by remaining at home and preserving your chastity.
Lastly, one should understand that even if one obtains a degree, Rizq (Sustenance) is predetermined and cannot be altered. What has been written for you will reach you no matter what. Place your trust in Almighty Allah and your father, you will not go wrong.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Bilal Yusuf Pandor
Checked and Approved by
Mufti Nabeel Valli
Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah
Lusaka, Zambia
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