Is it Permissible To Teach English Literature?

Answered by Ustadh Salman Younas
Question: Is it halal for me to study to become an english literature teacher?
Answer: assalamu `alaykum
Yes, it is perfectly fine for you to study and teach English Literature.
In fact, scholarship, both classical and contemporary, generally engaged in the study of literature due to the fact that it can be quite beneficial and assists one in their comprehension, ability to express themselves, and can also be deeply wholesome.
Additionally,the study of literature has in the past generally been associated with an educated upbringing, and many Western scholars of Islam, such as Shaykh Hamza Yusuf and Shaykh Nuh Keller, regularly read classical works of English Literature.
Please see also: Does the Shari`ah Permit Reading Non-Islamic Literature?
Salman
Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani.