Title: About hijab and purdah for female medical student

Question: I am a 4thth year medical student of a government medical college of Bangladesh. Our MBBS course is consisted of a 5 year academic and one year internship. I do full Shariah purdah like I use hand gloves and also cover my eyes by wearing long hijab during class times. But I have to give frequent oral viva examination to the male teachers and I have to touch male patients without gloves in hospital to learn the treatment and symptom of the disease as a compulsory academic rule and also must for becoming a doctor. But I have heard from a lot of Ulama that girls’ hands and voice even their handwritings are a matter of purdah and it is fardh. When I heard that I was so much tensed that I decided to leave up my study. My husband is also very eager as he is associated with tabligh jamah. But my father-in-laws and related relatives strictly refuse my decision. I do not want to continue my study. Please give me advise what should I do? Some say that I should continue as I have already passed 4 years.

Answer ID: 55011Posted on: Aug 29, 2020

Bismillah hir-Rahman nir-Rahim !

(Fatwa: 54/55/SD=11/1435) It is lawful for women to pursue education in the medical college while observing Shariah purdah with an intention to serve the women while observing Shariah purdah. It is also allowable for lady doctors to talk to strange patients and touch the required places of illness for the purpose of study and treatment only to as much required degree. However, the lady students should choose a lady patient for the purpose of treatment practice and exexperimentationercise. In the question mentioned above, it is lawful for you to pursue receive the education of “MBBS” course while observing Shariah purdah. You should try to cover your both of palms to a possible extent as well as avoid talking to strange men completely. However, sometime if you are sometimes in dire need to open your palms or talk to male patient or to touch his body part then it is allowable only as much as required, and. But it should be limited to bound only to the extent of need. قال ابن عابدين؛ وأما فرض الكفاية من العلم ، فهو كل علم لا يستغنى عنه في قوام أمور الدنيا كالطب والحساب – (رد المحتار: 1/122 ، مطلب في فرض الكفاية و فرض العين ’ مقدمه، ط: دارا أحياء التارث العربي’ بيروت) وقال الحصكفي: "وينتظر الطبيب إلى موضع مرضها بقدر الضرورة؛ إذ ا لضرورات متقدر بقدرها وكذا نظر قابلة وختان وينبغي أن يعلم امرأة تداويها؛ لأن نظر الجنس إلى الجنس أخف"’ قال الشامي: قوله: "وينبغي" – كذا أطلقه في الهداية والخانية وقال في الجوهرة : إذا كان المرض في سائر بدنها غير الفرج يجوز النظر إليه عند الدواء؛ لأنه موضع ضرورة ، وإن كان في موضع الفرج فينبغي أن يعلم امرأة تداويها’ فإن لم توجد و خافنو – عليها أن تهلك أو يصيبها وجع لا تحتمله يستروا منها كل شئي إلا موضع العلة ’ ثم يداويها الراجل ویبغض بصره ما استطاع إلا لأا عن موضع الجرح – (الدر المختار مع رد المحتار: 9/451-452، كتاب الحظر والإباحة، فصل في النظر والمس، ط: دار احياء التراث العربي، بيروت)