Is It Permissible for a Male Muslim to Study Physiotherapy When the Course Requires Examining Non-Mahram Women?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
Is it permissible for a male Muslim to study physiotherapy when the course requires touching or examining non-mahram women, if he limits contact, requests male partners, and only does what is necessary to complete the qualification? Would this be considered a valid necessity, especially if he intends to work mainly with male patients or in a gender-segregated environment later?
Answer
I hope you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.
[Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]
It is permissible to study physiotherapy, train, and work with limited contact with the opposite gender, as long as necessary restrictions are followed as much as possible. May Allah facilitate beneficial knowledge, ease your studies, future work, and accept your intentions.
Dua
Ask Allah (Most High) for regular guidance and beneficial knowledge.
It was narrated from Umm Salama that when the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) performed the morning prayer, while he said the Salam, he would say:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا، وَرِزْقًا طَيِّبًا، وَعَمَلاً مُتَقَبَّلاً
‘Allahumma inni as’aluka ‘ilman nafi‘an, wa rizqan tayyiban, wa ‘amalan mutaqabbalan (O Allah, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, goodly provision, and acceptable deeds).’” [Ibn Maja]
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْهُدَى وَالتُّقَى وَالْعَفَافَ وَالْغِنَى
Abdullah Ibn Mas‘ud said on the authority of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) that he used to say, “Allahumma inni as’aluka al-huda wa al-tuqa wa al-‘afafa wa al-ghina (O Allah, I ask You for guidance, piety, self-control, and free of want.) [Muslim]
May Allah grant you the best in this life and the Hereafter.
I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. You will receive guidance and direction in sha Allah.
Related
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- Choosing a Medical Career and Following Gender Interaction Rules
- Should I give up a medical degree due to contact with male patients?
- Touching male patients in the course of studies
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I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received a traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Presently, he lives in the UK with his wife and is interested in books and gardening.
