Pursuing professional education: A collective obligation in Islam

In the modern world, we have a very distinct demarcation between religious and secular learning. We treat the study of the Quran, Hadith and Fiqh as sacred acts of worship, whereas we treat the study of medicine, engineering or technology as a means to earn our living. However, from a holistic Islamic perspective, we can say that this demarcation is not quite right. According to Islamic teachings, the pursuit of professional learning, which is vital for the survival of the community, is not just a personal choice but a religious obligation called Fard-e-Kifaya.

In order to understand the reason behind this assertion that it is a religious obligation to study medicine and engineering, we need to understand the nature of obligation in Islam. Fard-e-Ain is an obligation that every single Muslim is to perform individually. This includes performing prayers five times a day and fasting. No one can do this on behalf of another. On the other hand, Fard-e-Kifaya is an obligation that is incumbent on the Muslim community. This means that if a certain number of people within a community take it upon themselves to perform this obligation, then the whole community is considered to have discharged this responsibility. However, if no one takes it upon themselves to perform this obligation, then the whole community is considered to have neglected this responsibility. A good example is that of performing the funeral prayer.

The reason why medicine is a Fard-e-Kifaya is that one of the five higher objectives of Sharia is the preservation of life and health. According to the Quran, “On account of this. We wrote for the children of Israel that whosoever killed a soul not to retaliate for a soul, nor for creating disorder in the land, then it is as if he had killed all mankind. And whosoever gave life to one soul, then it is as if he had given life to all mankind. And undoubtedly, our messengers came to them with clear proofs, and then undoubtedly, many of them after that committed excess in the land.” (Surah al-Ma’idah, Ayat 32). A society without skilled physicians is a society that is unable to protect its citizens from pain and death. Imam al-Ghazali explicitly discussed this in his book Ihya Ulum al-Din. He was worried that a large number of students were opting to study intricate legal issues, leaving the rest of society dependent on others for their own health. When a student decides to study medicine in order to serve humanity, then the hours of study and service are worship. Medical equipment is as much a part of serving the Almighty Allah as is the prayer mat.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) made several remarks along these lines; “The seeking of knowledge is obligatory for every Muslim” is one of the most often quoted. (Al-Tirmidhi, 74). The majority of Islamic scholars concur that it is an instruction to learn anything that can help both the individual and society as a whole. And what can serve better than studying professional subjects like medicine or engineering? Think about what it takes for a modern society to run. There is civil engineering for safe living conditions and clean water, mechanical and electrical engineering for energy and transportation, and now software engineering for controlling modern society. Without these engineers, society is unable to meet its needs or protect its interests. And what if a society does not have physicians? Islam does not encourage people to depend on others for their survival. If a community does not have its own engineers and doctors, it is not able to make any decision on its own and is exploited. By learning these sciences, Muslims are contributing to the world’s body of knowledge and making sure that they are contributors to civilisation.

For a student of medicine or engineering, the move from studying for a job to a religious obligation begins in the heart. If one is studying for fame or wealth, then there is little spiritual gain. Yet, when one is studying for a reason, such as the community needing a specialist in a certain area and one wishing to serve creation, then all struggles in studying are counted as a good deed. This line of thinking also calls for excellence. If it is a religious obligation, then it must be done to the highest degree of quality. For a student of medicine or engineering, anything less than excellent is not only a failure in one’s chosen career, but it is a failure in one’s religious obligation.

Thus, in conclusion, it is safe to say that the quest for professional education is anything but secular; it is in fact an essential spiritual journey. Medicine and engineering are essential pillars for meeting humanity’s physical and structural needs. In creating ethical and highly skilled professionals, we are in fact meeting our Kifaya obligation as a society.
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The writer is Assistant Professor of English at Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, Dhaka