Going to Christian schools

28-2-2011 | IslamWeb

Question:

There are some Christian schools where nuns teach and a strict code of conduct is observed in such schools. Female Muslim teachers teach Islam and there is a female Muslim inspector. The Nuns are not racists and they do not teach Christianity to Muslim students, who are the majority there. Is it permissible to send my children to such schools?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

 

Children are bounties from Allaah the Almighty. He put them in our trust and we must thank Him for them. Moreover we must protect our children against any physical or psychological harm. The first thing we must protect is their religious beliefs and faith. If a person sends their children to schools run by non-Muslims, then he is harming them. These schools have long-term and short-term goals and their own means to achieve them. They deceive Muslim parents by teaching Islamic subjects to their children and by observing a strict code of conduct.  This is a type of sugar-coated poisoning. As such, a Muslim must not send his children to schools run by non-Muslims, whether Christian or otherwise.

Muslims must establish their own schools which teach their children what they need for religion and life. This is Fardh Kifaayah (a collective obligation). In other words, it is enough if just an adequate number of Muslims do so. If no one does then those who are able to are all sinners and accountable for that. However Muslims are allowed to benefit from others' experience.

Allaah Knows best.