Answered by: Shaykh Shafiur Rahman
Question:
My child is studying in Islamic School due to lockdown, my child became weak in studies and his rank was downgraded so I thought of switching to a convent school. I took him for an interview in convent school but he failed twice.
My friend’s children are studying in the same convent school. I told him to speak to the school administration for giving a chance for my child they agreed but they demanded a donation of rs 70000 inr in which I had paid an amount of rs 37000 in advance and balance today as per the commitment.
But when I did a lottery his Islamic school name was opened thrice which made me confused.
I went to my friend and made an excuse that my child is not ready to go to that school but what he is telling now is that he had already managed the authority of convent school now he cannot tell the school authority to cancel the admission as the seat has been allotted to my child.
Now either I have to put my child in convent school or have to forget the amount which I have given, so please give me some suggestions because I am feeling guilty of making a big mistake by removing my child from an Islamic school.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
The father has the obligation to teach his children the bare minimum of Islamic knowledge (fard ayn) and to give him tarbiyah that will make the child an overall good Muslim and successful in the next life.
Allah Most High says:
“O you who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a fire whose fuel is men and stones.” (Surah al-Tahrim, 6)
This is a duty regardless of whether you send them to an Islamic school or some other type of school.
If by sending your child to a convent school there is a fear of his beliefs being affected etc. then it should be avoided. If the available Islamic school’s standard of education is extremely poor then that will also negatively harm your child. So the priority should be looking at what will be both beneficial to your child in worldly matters as well safeguarding and protecting your child’s deen. Safeguarding deen should be given a higher priority due to its significance and consequences as outlined in the ayah above.
So whichever combination of education at school and guidance at home can achieve that, then that is what should be pursued. We cannot tell you from afar which school to choose that decision must be made by yourself based on your assessment of the situation and based on what you think will best achieve the twin goals of giving you child an Islamic upbringing/education whilst also giving him a good standard of education so that he isn’t harmed when it comes to further education, employment and career.
Drawing lots for these kinds of complex decisions have no basis in Islam and has no effect on the future or whether or not it is a good decision or not.
Allah subhana wa ta’ala has given us hidaya of Islam and He has given us the intellect we must use both of these to try to reach such decisions whilst making dua and istikhara and having reliance on Allah subhana wa ta’ala. We should also seek advice from appropriate people who have knowledge of these matters and that you trust.
Written by Shaykh Shafiur Rahman
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham