Question:
Assalaamu ‘alaikum,
I’d like to enquire which madrasah would be suggested as thee best to do an ‘Aalimah course. Even if its 7 years. I’ve been researching but would like to ask for an opinion as I’m not familiar with any madrasah.
Answer:
Bismihi Ta‘ala
Wa ‘alaikumus salaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuh
Respected Sister
Masha Allah, your thirst for the knowledge of deen is very noble. May Allah Ta‘ala bless you with ilm-e-naafi’ (beneficial knowledge) and ‘amal-e-saaalih (righteous actions). Aameen.
While the madaaris catering for higher Islamic education for girls are generally a great khidmat, our sincere advice is to remain at home and acquire whatever knowledge of deen you can in an authentic manner. If due to circumstances the basics of deen cannot be acquired from anyone suitable at home, and there is a good girls madrasah in your area, you may attend it, providing that the laws of sharee‘ah, and especially of purdah, are properly observed. Whatever ‘ilm you can acquire in this manner will suffice. Allah Ta‘ala will bless you for your intention.
Nevertheless, together with this zeal of acquiring knowledge, it is extremely important, and a priority that you acquire the skills of being a home-maker and becoming a good wife and mother. This requires dedicated time in the company of one’s mother and other senior family women, and under their guidance doing all the chores and learning to take care of all the responsibilities that helps to make a home. If much higher knowledge has been acquired but the skills of a home-maker have not been learnt, and the temperament and mind set of taking responsibility of the home, serving one’s husband and family and being dedicated to the tarbiyat of one’s children has not been achieved, it will be very difficult to play one’s true role in life. Unfortunately the lack of the correct mind set has in many cases contributed to marriages breaking – May Allah Ta‘ala protect us.
Answered by:
Moulana Muhammad Ilyaas Patel
Checked and approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee