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She studies at a mixed school where she is not allowed to wear Hijab

Question

Aselam Aleykum. A sister is inshallah planning to become a gynecologist because there are very few female doctors to treat female patients. But the problem is that she goes to a female high-school where she's not allowed to wear the hijjab within the school compound and there are male teachers around. And if she changes this school which is known for it's good results, there's a very high chance that she may not have the sufficient score to be placed in medical schools within her city. She read a hadith which says that a women is not allowed to travel without a mahram. She couldn't find any other same-sex school & a school which allows her to pray dhur on time. What should she do? Please answer as soon as possible before registration starts. Jazakumulllah!

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 ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

It is not permissible for that sister to remove her Hijab in front of non-Mahram (marriageable) men. If she is able to continue studying in that school provided she wears her Hijab in front of non-Mahram men, then she may do so; otherwise, she must move to another school where she can wear her Hijab.

She should endeavor to move to a school where there is no mixing between males and females because mixing leads to temptation and evil.

As regards the Thuhr prayer, its time extends until the beginning of the ‘Asr prayer, so she can perform the prayer any time between Thuhr and ‘Asr prayer. If she is prevented from performing the Thuhr prayer on time, she may intend to combine these two prayers after the beginning of time of ‘Asr prayer, so she should combine the two prayers after the beginning of the time of ‘Asr because many scholars are of the view that it is permissible to combine the two prayers because of a necessity. For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 82828 and 99903.

On the other hand, if she needs to study in another city as the school she wants to move to is not in her town, then she may travel in the company of one of her Mahram (unmarriageable) relatives so that she would not be travelling without a Mahram, as this is prohibited by the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

She should rely on Allaah and know that the obedience of Allaah and being keen on pleasing Him is one of the greatest causes in attaining excellence, and that relying on Allaah and thinking good of Him is one of the greatest causes in success in life on earth and the Hereafter.

Allaah Knows best.

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