I am a 16 year old student living in Manchester and have an urge to become an Alimah (religious scholar). I have heard of courses that are held in Nottingham, Bradford and Lancaster. I am wondering if you could please give me information and details about any Alimah courses, because I cannot find any myself. I am very desperate due to the reason that I will be going to college in September and am afraid this will weaken my Iman. So I am thinking instead of going college I prefer to go to an Alimah course in order to protect my Iman.
Please can you send back your reply as soon as possible.

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

You have to aspire to what benefits you, as the Prophet ( Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) said: "Aspire to what benefits you (obeying Allah and inspiring to His treasures, seeking His help) and do not be lazy (in performing acts of good deed or seeking His help". Reported by Muslim and narrated by Abu Hurairah.

What benefits you in this life and in the hereafter is to seek religious knowledge.

This is what the female companions understood and hence took the initiative to ask for their right to seek religious knowledge and education and did not care about the deceptive enjoyment of this worldly life.

Al-Bukhari reported that Ibn Sa'id said: "Women told the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam): "Men take all your time on our behalf so give us a particular day from yourself. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) promised them a day when he met with them and admonished them."

The fruit of that female understanding was a brightened picture which surpassed the men in many cases.

For example Um Sulaim, may Allah be pleased with her, taught her child to utter the Shahadah( the two declarations of faith) despite her Kafir (non-Muslim) husband. When her husband died, Abu Talha, may Allah be pleased with him, married her. He was a non-Muslim, so she put a condition that her Mahr (dowry) be that he become a Muslim.

She appointed her son to serve the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam). By serving the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), he gained the honour of this life and that of the hereafter.

Another example is that of Um Hakeem, may Allah be pleased with her, who was a reason of her husband becoming a Muslim. Let's not forget Aisha, the mother of believers, may Allah be pleased with her, to whom the companions of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) referred to when they differed over a ruling, and then took her opinion as the correct one.

Similarly, Sumayyah, may Allah be pleased with her, sacrificed her own self in the path of Allah, and was the first woman who died as a martyr in Islam.

Likewise, Khadijah, may Allah be pleased with her, offered her wealth (for the sake of Allah) and was the first woman to support Dawah.

So, the women of the best generation went out (fighting) in the path of Allah, dressed in their Hijab, were chaste, and did not mix with men.

As regards the details about courses that you wish to attend, we refer you to Al-Muntada Al Islami in London, so you can ask them about these courses and about the people who conduct them.

Their address is as follows:

Al-Muntada Al-Islami

7 Bridges place,

Parsons Green,

Fulham,

Sw 4 Hw

Tel: 00 44 207 7369060 

Fax: 44(020)7 7364955

to increase your knowledge.

Finally, we draw your attention, dear sister in Islam, to two matters:

1.     It is not permissible for a woman who believes in Allah and his Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam), and believes that she will meet her Lord, to study in those mixed universities, in which adultery and fornication are widespread, and chastity is trampled down, and where people call to perversion.

2.     It is not permissible for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day, to travel without a Mahram to protect her, help her and assist her throughout the difficulties of traveling.

Allah knows best.