After Marriage, Can a Woman Continue Her Education and Pursue a Career?
Answered by Ustadha Raidah Shah Idil
Question: After I graduate, I will get married that summer. Is it okay for a woman to continue her education by going to college after marriage? Is working as an obstetrician allowed?
Answer: Assalamualaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
I pray this finds you well. May Allah reward you for seeking clarity on this very important issue, and bless you in your medical studies.
Education after marriage
The Messenger of Allah said: “Ask Allah for beneficial knowledge and seek refuge with Allah from knowledge that is of no benefit.” [Sunan Ibn Majah]
Seeking beneficial knowledge is strongly encouraged in Islam, throughout our lives, for both men and women.
Obstetrician
It is communally obligatory (fardul kifayah) for capable Muslim women to become obstetricians. This will provide Muslim women the ideal option of having a Muslim lady doctor assist them in their pregnancies and births.
Pre-marital discussions
Is your future husband supportive of your decision to pursue a medical career? It is extremely important for you to clarify this issue before you get married to him. I strongly encourage the two of you to complete this course Islamic Marriage: Guidance for Successful Marriage and Married Life.
Expectations
Being a doctor is extremely noble but also very challenging. The stress of being on-call, undertaking years of study, and constant examinations is a strain on even the best of marriages. This is why it is so important to marry a man of religion and good character, who agrees to support your career for the sake of pleasing Allah.
If he expects to marry a woman who will stay home and look after his children, then he will be disappointed. If he is happy for you to work part-time and entrust your children to loving caregivers, then he is the right match for you, inshaAllah.
Please clarify these issues before you get married, and save yourselves future heartache.
Please refer to the following links:
How Can I Follow My Religion Working as a Female Doctor?
Choosing a Medical Career and Following Gender Interaction Rules
Fiqh of Females Seeking Medical Treatment
Wassalam,
Raidah
Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
