Specialties in scientific and technological fields, the ummah’s need for them, and guidelines and advice thereon

There are many
issues and guidelines that we need to bear in mind when discussing the
branches of knowledge that are essential for the Muslim ummah, including the
following:

1.
Undoubtedly the Muslim ummah needs its members to be pioneers
in both humanities and sciences, and it should not be dependent on other
nations in that regard. Islam is the religion of knowledge, and Allah, may
He be exalted, began His revelation to His Prophet (blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him) with the word: “Read (Iqra’)”. Islam urges people to seek
knowledge, highlights the high status that knowledge should have among
Muslims, and made the learning of different branches of knowledge a communal
obligation upon the Muslim ummah.

2.
Our advice is that those who want to specialise in a
particular field should already have an inclination towards and aptitude for
that field. It is well-known that Muslims, like any other people, vary with
regard to what they have an inclination towards, and it is better to
encourage each of them to pursue the fields in which they are interested and
have an inclination towards, and not to force them to learn something they
are not interested in, let alone force them to do something that they
dislike.

This matter was
discussed by the leading scholars of Islam, both during the classical period
and in modern times. In fact they advised that the child should be allowed
to learn that towards which he is inclined from an early age (so that he
grows up with it), without waiting until he gets older in order to be
directed to pursue that field.

Ibn al-Qayyim
(may Allah have mercy on him) said:

Attention should
be paid to the child’s situation and the aptitudes that he has towards
different fields, and what is available to him. Thus we may conclude that he
is created for a particular field, so he should not be forced into something
else, so long as it is something that is allowed according to Islamic
teachings. If he is forced to do something for which he has no aptitude or
inclination, he will never succeed in that field, and he will miss out on
the opportunity to work in a field for which he has an aptitude. So if (a
father) sees that his son has a clear grasp of a particular field and a
clear understanding of it, and what he learns of it sticks in his mind, then
these are signs that he likes that field and has an aptitude for it, and he
will be able to become well grounded in that field, provided that there are
no distractions, and he will become well versed in that matter and become
established in that field, and then he will be able to progress with it. But
if the father sees the opposite of that in all aspects, and instead the
child has an inclination towards horsemanship and everything connected with
it, such as riding, archery and spear play, and he has no aptitude for
seeking knowledge and was not created for that, then the father should let
him learn horsemanship and train in it, for that will be more beneficial for
him and for the Muslims.

If the father
sees that the child is not interested in that (horsemanship) either, and
that he was not created for it, and instead he sees that he is interested in
some handicrafts, for which he has an aptitude and inclination, and it is a
kind of handicraft that is permissible and useful for people, then he should
let him learn it.

All of this
comes after teaching him what he needs to know of religious issues, for that
is easy for anyone to learn, so that Allah may establish His proof and
people will be left with no excuse, and Allah is the source of all
blessings.

End quote from
Tuhfat al-Mawdood fi Ahkaam al-Mawlood (p. 243, 244)

Whoever reflects
on the stories of the Companions, and sees how the Prophet (blessings and
peace of Allah be upon him) helped them to develop their character, will see
how accurate what we have suggested above is, as we can see its application
in their lives (may Allah be pleased with them). Some of them were well
versed in Islamic jurisprudence, some of them became prominent reciters of
the Qur’an, some demonstrated their talents in jihad, and some of them
became brilliant poets. Each of them did what he was good at, and
contributed to the building of the state. Just as Islam could be defended
through debate and presenting proof, it could also be defended by the sword
and spear. For each of these fields, there are people among the Companions
who excelled in it and achieved great things, but all of them had something
in common, namely good knowledge of Islam in general, which did not prevent
them from specialising in some field or craft.

3.
It is essential to differentiate between men and women when
setting out guidelines as to what specialisations are best in various
sciences and other fields. Some fields that are suitable for men are not
necessarily suitable for women. Fields having to do with heavy industry,
political matters and military affairs may not be appropriate for women, but
there are some fields that may be appropriate for both men and women, such
as education, light industry and medical fields; in the field of medicine
there may be a specialty that is not appropriate for men, namely gynaecology
or women’s health.

It is not
permissible for men or women to go against the laws of Allah, may He be
exalted, when specialising in a particular field and learning it. They
should avoid mixing, travelling to non-Muslim countries, and women
travelling alone without a mahram. Other matters that are contrary to
Islamic teachings include going to a non-Muslim country to study when this
study and this specialty is available in the Muslim world.

4.
If the Muslim ummah needs specialists in some essential
field, then they should choose the right people to undertake that study, and
they should not open the door to everyone. So they should not let a young,
single man who is lacking in Islamic knowledge go to non-Muslim countries,
because that is more likely to make him fall into temptation and confusion,
in which case we would lose him and miss out on the purpose for which he
went there, and we would not benefit from him at all.

Shaykh ‘Abd
al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

If it becomes
necessary to send some students abroad, because there are no specialised
colleges or institutes (in our country), especially in the fields of
manufacturing and the like, then I think that a committee of people of
knowledge and integrity should be formed to choose the right young men who
are sound in terms of religious commitment and morals, who have good
knowledge of Islam and are very committed to their religion, and to choose a
supervisor for this group, someone who is known to have religious knowledge,
be righteous, and be active in da‘wah, so that he can accompany this group
and call people to Allah in that land. At the same time, he can supervise
the students, check on them, watch their conduct, and advise them and show
them the right way, and discuss with them what they come across of specious
arguments or doubts, and so on.

They should have
an orientation or training course before they leave, even if it is short,
where they can be alerted to problems and troubles that they may encounter,
or specious arguments that they may face, in the country to which they are
being sent, and they can be taught about the Islamic teachings on those
matters, and the wisdom behind Islamic rulings, as indicated in the Book of
Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon
him), and the views of the scholars, such as rulings on slavery, polygamy in
general, the reason why the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon
him) in particular had several wives, the rulings on divorce, the wisdom
behind jihad, both proactive and defensive, and other matters that the
enemies of Allah usually raise with the Muslim youth, so that they will be
fully prepared to refute any specious arguments with which they are faced.

End quote from
Majmoo‘ Fataawa ash-Shaykh Ibn Baaz (1/386-388)

The scholars of
the Standing Committee said:

If the situation
is as described, that you want to study a specialisation that is available
in your Muslim country, and that studying abroad may lead to a lot of
negative consequences with regard to your religious commitment and morality,
and may affect your wife and children, then it is not permissible for you to
travel for the purpose of this study, because it is not necessary to do so
when it is available in your Muslim country.

There are many
sound reports from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)
which warnn against living in non-Muslim countries without any legitimate
reason, such as when he (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “I
disavow any Muslim who lives among the mushrikeen”, and other hadiths. What
some Muslims have fallen into of travelling to non-Muslim countries
unnecessarily comes under the heading of carelessness which is not
permissible when it comes to the religion of Allah. This is the result of
giving precedence to this world over the hereafter, and Allah, may He be
glorified and exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

“But you prefer
the worldly life,

While the
Hereafter is better and more enduring”

[al-A‘laa 87:16,
17]

“Say, The
enjoyment of this world is little, and the Hereafter is better for he who
fears Allah. And injustice will not be done to you, [even] as much as a
thread [inside a date seed]”

[an-Nisa’ 4:77].

And the Prophet
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever is mainly
concerned about the Hereafter, Allah will make him focused and content and
will make him feel independent of others, and his worldly affairs will fall
into place. But whoever is mainly concerned with this world, Allah will make
him distracted and unfocused and will make him fear poverty constantly, and
he will get nothing of this world except what is decreed for him.”

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez
Aal ash-Shaykh, Shaykh ‘Abdullah al-Ghadyaan, Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan,
Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd

Fataawa al-Lajnah
ad-Daa’imah
(26/93-96)

5.
Finally, there are many fields of knowledge, and in each
field there are many specialties. Medicine has many specialties, and for
just one part of the body there may be many specialties. The Muslim ummah
needs specialists in all permissible branches of knowledge and skills,
including medicine, engineering, physics, chemistry, nuclear and atomic
science, military fields, heavy industry, and other branches of knowledge
and skills, provided that the right field is chosen and provided that it is
done for some legitimate or permissible purpose; people must adhere to
Islamic teachings whilst learning the specialty, and they must have
sufficient knowledge of Islam.

At present, we
do not know of any particular book to refer you to.

We ask Allah,
may He be exalted, to help the Muslims to do that which He loves and which
pleases Him, and to grant them glory and power.

And Allah knows
best.