Fariq Naik – Acquiring Knowledge from a Non-Muslim Teacher
AI: Summary ©
The speaker discusses the prevalence of misunderstandings in Islam, including the belief that only religion can be acquired from a non- Muslim teacher. They suggest that choosing a non- Muslim guide may help children understand their teachings and teachings. The importance of practicing Islam in learning from a non-traditional guide is emphasized, along with the need for worldly knowledge in learning from a proper segregation of genders.
AI: Summary ©
Assalamu Alaikum, I am Haroon Rashid from Kashmir.
Is it permissible to be a student of
a non-Muslim teacher as far as worldly
knowledge is concerned?
Knowledge can broadly be classified into two categories.
The first is the Islamic knowledge.
The second is the worldly knowledge.
As far as Islamic knowledge is concerned, can
it be acquired from a non-Muslim teacher?
Islamic knowledge should only be acquired from a
Muslim teacher.
Islamic knowledge should not be acquired from a
non-Muslim teacher.
As far as knowledge of the Deen is
concerned, we should only acquire it from a
Muslim teacher.
And we find that it is very prevalent
in today's time that there are non-Muslim
teachers who teach Islam to Muslim students, unfortunately.
Islamic knowledge, we should only acquire it from
Muslim teachers.
And we find in the Western countries, it
is very prevalent when students, they are doing
their masters and their PhD, their guide many
a times is a non-Muslim.
How can you have a guide as a
non-Muslim when you are studying Islam?
And many people, you know, they justify and
they say, no, no, this person is just
my guide.
What is the harm?
Now, if you have a non-Muslim as
your guide, as far as Islamic knowledge is
concerned, you never know it may have a
huge impact on you.
And we find this, that those students who
have passed from universities, Islamic universities, like the
Madinah University, like Imam Mohammed bin Saud Islamic
University, they do their bachelors from these Islamic
universities.
And later on, they do their masters and
their PhD in the Western countries.
And their guide is a non-Muslim.
And we can see, and we see the
drastic change as far as them practicing Islam
is concerned.
They tend to compromise as far as Islam
is concerned.
Their views change and they become more lenient
as far as practicing Islam is concerned.
Certain people, we see that they study from
Madinah University and while they are studying in
Madinah University, they are so righteous and so
religious.
And immediately after they pass from Madinah University
and after they do their bachelors, they are
so religious and righteous.
And they are so good at practicing Muslims.
But unfortunately, when they go to the Western
countries and they do their masters and their
PhD under a non-Muslim guide, we see
their views change.
And I would like to give you an
example.
If you are writing a thesis on Islamic
banking and there is a subtopic in Islamic
banking regarding interest and you are mentioning regarding
taking a loan from a conventional bank for
your house, a home loan or taking an
educational loan.
Now, if your guide is a non-Muslim,
he may tell you that it is okay
with you taking a home loan from a
conventional bank that is based on interest, an
interest-based loan because it is a requirement,
you require a home.
Many people, they even justify and they say
that as far as education is concerned, you
can take an interest-based loan, unfortunately.
Islam is crystal clear and Allah subhanahu wa
ta'ala clearly says in the glorious Quran
that the one who deals in Riba, it
is as if he is waging a war
with Allah and his messenger.
But yet people, they try to justify and
they find ways in order to make something
that is Haram into Halal and they say
that this is a requirement, unfortunately.
So that's the reason when we are acquiring
Islamic knowledge, we should see to it that
we acquire it from a Muslim teacher.
Even if it be a thesis, yet we
should see to it that we choose a
guide who is a Muslim and what is
the need for choosing a guide who is
a non-Muslim?
A non-Muslim who is a guide, he
is the one who is going to guide
you as far as Tafsir is concerned, he
is the one who is going to guide
you as far as Hadith is concerned, it
is not in accordance to the glorious Quran
and the teachings of our beloved Prophet Muhammad
may peace and blessings be upon him.
So this is as far as Islamic knowledge
is concerned.
The second type of knowledge, it is the
worldly knowledge.
As far as worldly knowledge is concerned, those
can we acquire it from a non-Muslim
teacher.
Those students who are very young and those
who are studying in school in the primary
and pre-primary section, for example in nursery,
junior KG, senior KG etc., they should not
acquire knowledge from a non-Muslim teacher and
why do I say this?
Because when a child is young, he cannot
decipher between right and wrong, for example a
child is 5 years, 6 years etc.
and the teacher may say certain things which
may go against the teachings of Islam and
when a child is very young when he
is studying in school, for him his teacher
is the ultimate, his teacher is next to
God, whatever his teacher tells him, the student
follows it blindly.
So that is the reason if the child
is very young, we should see to it
that this child does not study even worldly
knowledge under a non-Muslim teacher.
Because for example, the teacher may say certain
things which may go against the teachings of
Islam, for example the teacher may say that
interest is very good for the society and
the student may not realize as far as
those students who have crossed the age of
puberty, for example they are 12 years, 13
years, 14 years, 15 years etc., they are
in grade 6, 7, 8 etc., even for
these students it is better that they study
worldly knowledge under a Muslim teacher.
But if they are confident as far as
their deen, as far as their religion is
concerned, then they may study worldly knowledge under
a non-Muslim teacher.
But they should see to it that the
teacher is not misguiding them and is not
teaching anything against the glorious Quran or authentic
teachings of our beloved Prophet Muhammad may peace
and blessings be upon him.
But I would like to emphasize and say
that even for these students, it is best
that they study Islam under, they study worldly
knowledge under a Muslim teacher.
Now as far as those students who are
in college and in universities, can they acquire
worldly knowledge from a non-Muslim teacher?
The best for those students who are in
college and in universities is that they acquire
worldly knowledge from a Muslim teacher.
But if they are strong as far as
their deen is concerned and if they are
steadfast on the religion of Islam and if
the teacher is not misguiding them and not
teaching anything that goes against the glorious Quran
and authentic teachings of our beloved Prophet Muhammad
peace be upon him, then a student who
is in college or in a university can
study worldly knowledge under a non-Muslim teacher.
But yet the best is to study worldly
knowledge under a Muslim teacher.
And for those students who are in the
pre-primary or primary section, they cannot decipher
between right and wrong.
So if for example, if there is a
female teacher who wears a skirt and teaches
the students, so the female students, they may
be influenced by the dressing of the teacher
and even they will want to wear skirts,
they will also want to wear skirts.
So many a times we think that oh
it is okay, it is just worldly knowledge,
but we do not realize the impact that
it has on students who are young, especially
on students who study in the primary and
pre-primary section.
So as far as worldly knowledge is concerned,
the best is that it be acquired from
a Muslim teacher.
And our beloved Prophet Muhammad peace be upon
him said, طَلَبُ الْعِلْمِ فَرِيضَةٌ عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ
Seeking knowledge, it is obligatory upon every single
Muslim.
So we should acquire education and knowledge and
we should try to admit our children into
good Islamic schools, schools wherein there is proper
segregation of the genders.
Males have a separate premise and the females
have a separate premise.
So I hope that answers your question.