Removing young daughter from mixed school
8-8-2001 | IslamWeb
Question:
I recently removed my two young daughters from a mixed school they were attending and even my own family members opposed me by saying that the local Shaikhs have their daughters in school as opposed to my stand. I am trying to teach them at home because here in Kenya where I stay there are no school for girls only. Have I done the right thing? I'm trying to practise my religion in its purest form, at least even if I do it with my wife and children.
Answer:
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
We supplicate Allah to protect you from all evils and keep you steadfast in your religion. What you have done i.e. not permitting your daughters to study in a mixed school is a tremendous act of faith. There are many evidences in Sharia establishing the prohibition of mixing men and women, for example you may read the Fatwas:
82730, 82395 and 81833.
Any one who objects what you did, based upon what is practiced generally among society, has no logical reason for his objection, since the supreme authority is always the Qur'an and Hadith. So what these people are trying to impose on you has nothing to do with rules of Shariah. Everyone's word is subject to acceptance or refusal save the Prophet Muhammad's (Peace and blessing be upon him) words. You should also know that Ibn Masood (
) said: 'Everyone should follow those companions of the Prophet who have died because the living companions are not safe from the trials'. Bayhaqi narrates also from him that he said: 'None should fully imitate another person's religion in such a manner that if he believes in Allah he believes too, and if he becomes an infidel he too becomes infidel. Therefore, whoever wants to follow a person (from the companions of the Prophet) should follow the one who has died, since the person who is living is not free from trial'. There are many living proofs that separate education for boys and girls is more useful then co-education. Separate education helps both sexes' to concentrate on study, keep their mind from distraction and protects them from all kinds of emotional and mental stimulation. So, it is very possible for your daughters to continue their education by teaching them at home. We ask Allah Almighty to support and bless you for your daughters. And guide you to the right path.
Allah knows best.