The Harms of Secular Education and Secular Institutes

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

Presently, we find that many learned people, pious people, Ulama and even Mashaa’ikh,  condone and even encourage secular education or tertiary education. They stipulate conditions such as: Not getting involved in sins and any immoral behaviour; maintaining one’s identity as a Muslim, performing Salaah, etc.

However, dealing with so many cases and we find that even good Muslim children, with a good Dieni upbringing, from good homes and Dieni families, become victims to the environment and get caught up in illicit relationships, fornication, abortions, marriage to non-Muslims, atheism, homosexuality, Shia’ism, Qadianism, drugs, alcohol, etc. 

These are the incidents that are brought to us – when the damage is done.

My Ustaadh, Hafiz Muhammad Salloo Saheb (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) had related that a father requested Dua for his young daughter, who he was sending to the UK, to study medicine. The father requested Dua that Allah Ta’ala protects her from all evils and harm since she would be alone in a foreign country.

Hadhrat Hafiz Saheb (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) said to the father: “You are telling me that you want to send your daughter out in the pouring rain and I must make Dua that she must not get wet. If she goes out in the rain, she must get wet.” …And being alone in a foreign country, or even in another part of the country, leaves her without the “umbrella” of a Mahram, to offer her protection.

If there is a young and beautiful, tender and healthy buck in front of a hungry lion, then even if you were to give a lecture to the lion that it must not eat the buck, that advice will not mean anything to the lion. The lion only sees a delicious meal before him, which he will devour.

We send our children into the universities and colleges – this is akin to sending them into the lion’s den – except that these institutes are shaytaan’s dens. And we have seen so many devoured by the environment – not only losing their Hayaa and chastity, but their Imaan as well.

Recently, a girl, from a very Dieni family, was sent to a foreign country to study. When she was returning home for a holiday, she asked her parents if she could bring her friend along. They gave permission, not realising that her friend was a male, whom she was involved with and also living with.

On seeing him and being informed of the relationship, the parents refused to accommodate any Haraam in their home. ...Despite the Dieni upbringing that had been given, this young girl refused to take understanding, saying that there was no way she would give up the Haraam relationship. She chose to leave her family and chose to live in sin. The parents were naturally devastated. 

Attending these western secular insitutions and pursuing secular education have given rise to such incidents. There is an escalation and surge of cases, brought to us, of Muslim girls and Muslim boys caught up in Zina or homosexuality, giving up Islam, etc. 

A doctor from Welkom mentioned to me that after his son completed high school, he took him to one of the universities to register him for his tertiary education. However, on seeing how degenerative and immoral the environment at the university is, he decided against enrolling his son. He said to me: “If I send my son to university, it will be paying thousands of Rands to send him to Jahannum. I will be signing a cheque to dispatch my son to Jahannum!”

This was the observation and realisation of a medical doctor and he had the good understanding that this tertiary secular education is not worth anything if it meant that his son lost his connection with Dien and lost his Aakhirah.

One brother asked me for advice regarding his son’s education. I suggested that he enrol his son in a Darul Uloom and make him an Aalim. Insha-Allah, this would invite the success of both worlds – for his son and for the parents. The father was not keen on this, so I said that his son should join him in the business. The father’s inclination was a university education and this was the decision of the father and son. Later, it was brought to my attention that the son was influenced by Shias and was even propagating shia’ism at the university he was attending. May Allah Ta'ala save us all. 

Another incident was of a student who would boldly announce to Muslim students, at one of South African universities, that he had been a Muslim, gave up Islam, is an atheist and also a homosexual.

This is what the university/college life and secular education took from him and what it then gave him …and many, many more like him. It took away the gems and jewels of Imaan and Dien, of chastity, morality and modesty.

Worldly education is permissible in Islam. It is not prohibited. ...Secular education is rejected because its purpose is to eradicate religion.

We should also remember that worldly knowledge is necessary to the extent of its necessity and for who it is necessary.

One principal of Darul Uloom Deoband was told to introduce worldly education in the Darul Uloom. He replied: “There are enough toilets available. I do not have to introduce more of those toilets in the Darul Uloom.”

What he was alluding and indicating to was that Dunyawi education is a necessity just as a toilet is a necessity. And worldly education was and is already more than sufficiently catered for by governments, NGOs, private schools, etc. There was no need for the Darul Uloom to also offer it.


Dieni education is a necessity like air and water - and is by far more important. We are dependent on air and water for our survival. To a greater extent we are in need of Dien to survive spiritually. Dien is the basis of salvation in the Hereafter.

Qaasimul Uloom wal Khairaat, Hadhrat Moulana Muhammad Qaasim Nanotwi (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) had also explained that where worldly education was flourishing, the knowledge which was sacred (Dieni knowledge) was abandoned. This is why Darul Uloom Deoband focussed entirely on Dieni knowledge.

Many are not even aware of the aims of secular education but they endorse and support it. Yet, secular education is that worldly education which does not feature Allah Ta’ala. It is knowledge minus the belief in Allah Ta’ala. It is entirely atheistic in essence. Behind the secular education system, are hard-core atheists. Their aim is to divest us of our religion.

Sadly, materialism has become our pursuit. There are some of us, who even have a connection with Dien, yet look towards our children’s Dunya first. Dunya takes priority. Dien takes a back seat or is left out. ...May Allah Ta'ala guide us.

We fail to understand the serious repercussions when secular education is favoured over Dieni education. When Dunya is given preference, Dien and Aakhirah can easily be lost.  

Secular education is a deception. We are deceived into believing that it is a need and a must, and without it, there is no worldly success. Yet, Allah Ta’ala promises success in both Dunya and Aakhirah if we give precedence to Dien.

Sometimes, our thinking and our priorities are very wrong. We hear people say that their daughters have to study, they have to get their degrees and they have to earn a living. They consider this a must and their reasons are: What if she gets divorced?  Or: In today’s time, you need two incomes per family.

…Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’oon. Where is our Imaan? Up until Matric, did Allah Ta’ala not make all the arrangements for their food, shelter, clothing, etc. without them going out to earn? Do we doubt His ability to provide? Why do we have to adopt such negativity regarding our daughters futures that we assume divorce is likely and that they will have to go out and fend for themselves?

This mind-set makes evident our weak and diluted trust in Allah Ta’ala and it is chalking out a Taqdeer of adversity and perhaps even a failed marriage - Allah Ta'ala forbid. 

Rasulullah (Sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam) said: “Allah Ta’ala said: ‘I am as My servant thinks (expects) I am.”[1] 

Hafez Ibn Hajar (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) had said that this means: “I am able to do whatever he expects I will do.”[2]

If our expectation in Allah Ta’ala is good, we invite good circumstances. If our expectation is bad, we invite bad circumstances. Our lives are in the full control of Allah Ta’ala. This kind of negative thinking indicates a very poor opinion of Allah Ta’ala... that Allah Ta'ala will not create favourable conditions and situations. (Na'uzu Billah).

With two incomes today, people still complain that it is not enough.  …And the truth is that even two incomes are not sufficient in the face of materialism and greed. 

Our Rizq (sustenance) is Muqaddar. It has been pre-destined. It will reach us – nothing less and nothing more.

Women have written, stating that in trying to juggle a career, marriage and responsibilities of children, etc. they have completely exhausted themselves and have lost their bearings spiritually. The second income and all the material luxuries did not buy them happiness and peace; it just brought in its wake, a lot of stress, tension, depression and sickness.

Brothers have written that in all their efforts and exertion and sacrifices to acquire the luxuries of the world, there is still a vacuum. There is something missing. This is because Dunya cannot satisfy the Rooh (soul). The soul only finds its peace and contentment in Dien.

Let us not foolishly remain trapped in the rat race of Dunya – weighed down and shackled by worldly worries and expenses – and Allah Ta'ala forbid, at the time of death, exiting the world spiritually bankrupt.

Not one single thing of all the material comforts of Dunya accumulated will be accompanying us to the Hererafter. So take the provision that is essential – the provision of Imaan and good deeds. Work hard for this, to reap the best of the Hereafter.

The worldly life is fleeting. The Herafter is forever. Be intelligent. Invest where there are never-ending returns.

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: ‘Verily, the world has been created for you and you have been created for the Hereafter.’[3]

May Allah Ta’ala grant us the understanding, the concern and the effort towards learning Dien and achieving Allah Ta’ala’s Pleasure and Jannah.

---

[1] Sahih Bukhari

[2] Fath al-Bari

[3] Tambeehul Ghaafileen

FOR MORE READING ON SECULAR EDUCATION, CLICK HERE