Home
Discover Islam
Quran Recitations
Lectures
Fatwa
Articles
Fiqh
E-Books
Women
Boys & Girls 
Enter Question
View By Subject
Fatwa Of The Week
Selected Fatwa
Fatwa CenterStudying medicine in a non-Muslim country
Question
I want to study medicine. I live here in a non-Muslim country. I cannot afford to study in another country for medicine; for example, in a Muslim country. Will I enroll in medicine in my country where I may violate some of the Muslim teachings? The following are some things that I might encounter in studying medicine here in a non-Muslim country: (1) mix with females in the classroom or hospital, (2) see and touch female body parts (e.g. we will be required to go on duty in a delivery room) and I cannot select the gender of my patient during consultation activities in a clinic, emergency room, etc.), (3) giving medicines that may contain pork or other haram ingredients (it will be difficult for me to tell the doctors that I cannot give a medicine with pork or haram ingredients since I am in training). I am in difficulty. I live in a non-Muslim country. I cannot migrate to a Muslim country because I do not have the capacity and ability to do so. Will God understand me if I continue studying medicine despite the possible haram activities? If I am not allowed to study medicine, are we saying that muslims in non-muslim countries cannot study medicine, nursing, etc. since these courses may be associated with haram activities/things during schooling, training, etc.? I think when you live in a non-Muslim country, it is difficult to be absolutely and completely Muslim in all dealings. And it is impossible to let all Muslims in the world to migrate to Muslim countries. I'm confused right now. Thank you for your time.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
Many issues that you mentioned are widespread in the medicine studies in the Muslim countries and other countries. The scholars didn't state that Muslims should be prevented from studying medicine because of the possibility of the occurrence of these abominable actions.
However, what is obligatory on the one who studies medicine is avoiding what is forbidden as much as he can. If you want to study medicine in the country that you are residing in, then there is nothing wrong with that. However, it is compulsory on you to avoid what is forbidden, such as prescribing a prohibited medicine, being alone with a non-Mahram woman (one who is not your wife or a close relative) and looking at her with desire or touching her without necessity. As for looking at private parts when it is needed for the purpose of learning or for treating a patient, it is permissible as much as necessary only, and the treatment of a woman by a man is permissible when it is required by necessity.
However, if you know yourself that studying medicine will expose you to fall in what is forbidden and hurt your religion, then it is impermissible to enroll in it without any necessity.
For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 262342.
Allah knows best.
Search Fatwa
Fatwa Subject
