Home
Discover Islam
Quran Recitations
Lectures
Fatwa
Articles
Fiqh
E-Books
Women
Boys & Girls 
Enter Question
View By Subject
Fatwa Of The Week
Selected Fatwa
Fatwa CenterStudying Physiotherapy and Touching the Opposite Gender
Question
I am a male Muslim living in a non-Muslim country wanting to study physiotherapy, but the course involves touching non-mahram women during practicals and clinical training. I want to follow Islam and avoid impermissible contact. If I intend to limit this, request male partners, only do what is necessary, and later work with male patients or in a Muslim country, is it allowed as a necessity? What conditions must I follow to make it permissible?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
Your study of medicine and the learning of experimental sciences that Muslims are in need of is something encouraged.
In principle, touching the body of a non-mahram woman is prohibited. Therefore, try to convince the administration to allow you to examine only male patients; if they agree, then that is excellent, and is what you are actually aiming for.
But if they do not agree, then do your best to minimize any physical contact with female patients. For the situations in which contact is unavoidable, wear gloves so there is no direct touch.
Allah knows best.
Search Fatwa
Fatwa Subject
