Females Studying In Mixed Environments
QUESTION:
I have recently read about the Islamic rulings on studying/working in mixed environments. However, I am unsure if women are allowed to do so. Is a woman allowed to study in a mixed school or college if she has absolutely no other options?
ANSWER:
No, it is absolutely not permissible for a girl to study in a mixed environment. She will be in perpetual sin because the Quraan explicitly commands a woman to remain within the confines of her home.
Allah Ta’ala states in the Quraan Majeed:
وَقَرْنَ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ وَلَا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ الْأُولَىٰ
(الأحزاب آ:33)
“Remain in your homes and do not make a display of yourselves as was the practice of the former period of ignorance.”
Also consider the following Hadith:
عن عبد الله رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: إن المرأة عورة فإذا خرجت استشرفها الشيطان وأقرب ما تكون من وجه ربها وهي في قعر بيتها
(مسند البزار، الرقم: 1820)
Hadrat Abdullah bin Mas’ood Radiallahu Anhu reports that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “A woman should be concealed (from strange men). When she leaves her home, Shaytaan looks at her. The time that she is closest to her Rabb is when she is within the confines of her home.”
From the above-mentioned Aayah and Hadith, we understand that women should not venture outdoors unnecessarily. When it comes to the expenses of women, Islam has made provisions under all circumstances. Prior to Nikaah, it is the responsibility of the father to take care of his daughter; and after Nikaah, it is the responsibility of the husband to take care of his wife. If the husband passes away or separation takes place, then too our Deen commands the close family members to fulfill the needs of such a woman.
وَالْأُمُّ إذَا كَانَتْ فَقِيرَةً فَإِنَّهُ يَلْزَمُ الِابْنَ نَفَقَتُهَا، وَإِنْ كَانَ مُعْسِرًا، أَوْ هِيَ غَيْرَ زَمِنَةٍ (الفتاوى الهندية 1/565)
تَجِبُ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ نَفَقَةُ امْرَأَتِهِ الْمُسْلِمَةِ وَالذِّمِّيَّةِ وَالْفَقِيرَةِ وَالْغَنِيَّةِ دَخَلَ بِهَا أَوْ لَمْ يَدْخُلْ كَبِيرَةً كَانَتْ الْمَرْأَةُ أَوْ صَغِيرَةً يُجَامَعُ مِثْلُهَا كَذَا فِي فَتَاوَى قَاضِي خَانْ سَوَاءٌ كَانَتْ حُرَّةً أَوْ مُكَاتَبَةً كَذَا فِي الْجَوْهَرَةِ النَّيِّرَةِ (الفتاوى الهندية 1/544)
From the above we understand that is impermissible for a woman to go out to study and work, as this will be a means of opening many doors of Fitnahs such as, intermingling of sexes, Zina, travelling without a Mahram and a host of other evils. Hence, we strongly advise that you should not go to such places.
ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Abdul Kader Fazlani
Date: 05 Ramadhaan 1447 / 23 February 2026
CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:
Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb