BENEFIT 449: The End Justifies The Means

الغاية تبرر الوسيلة Sheikh Albāni rahimahullah states: This is from the Principles of the disbelievers - the end justifies the means. I hope you understand this well because many Islamic groups base their actions on this principle - the end justifies the means. Sometimes the affair of some of these groups reaches to an extent where they slander other Muslims in order to annihilate them, simply because they do not join their group. (because) 'The end justifies the means'. This has nothing to do with Islam whatsoever. So we return now to that country where there is only a mixed university. What type of knowledge is going to be acquired? Is it (a type of knowledge that is) an individual obligation or a communal obligation? Undoubtedly, there is no such knowledge as an individual obligation found therein. On the contrary, they may study a knowledge that is not even permissible to study, such as studying laws of economics and politics, and the like, which contradicts the Islamic Shari'ah in many of its branches... A very dangerous statement emanated from a brother of ours who is dear to us in Kuwait before this last ordeal; that it is impossible for Muslims to gain a footing except by committing some sins. And I believe that every Islamic group that wants to enter itself into the political activity that is currently taking place in Islamic governments will be compelled to fall into such breaches; i.e. committing what Allah has forbidden on the basis 'the end justifies the means'. This is not from Islam. Therefore, we say, if the foundation of this university that is based on disobedience to Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, was not established, what would befall the Muslims of devastation and destruction? Nothing! On the contrary, when they adopt the Islamic rule, they will have to create a university based on the Islamic system. And as you all know, if a Masjid Dhirar [see Surah Tawbah: 108] were to be established, it would not be permissible to remain nor pray therein, while it is a Masjid whose purpose is for the worship of Allah alone, without any partners. However, alongside that, it was established to cause harm, so due to this intent it becomes impermissible. So it has to be demolished from its very foundation. Therefore this university which is founded upon impermissible free-mixing, what benefit in terms of knowledge does it have to offer to the Muslim youth? I don't believe that this is the way to acquire knowledge, and when we say this, we are not forgetting the fact that Islam commands Muslims to learn every useful science; and this is not confined to Islamic sciences, but rather every science including physics, chemistry, astronomy, etc., which Muslims can benefit from and establish their livelihood. This is a communal obligation, but in order to achieve a communal obligation it is not permissible for a Muslim to expose himself to violating the Shari’ah. Here we are reminded of many of the issues which the Muslim youth, both male and female, fall into. We say for example, now that the field of medicine has advanced and consists of many specialisations in various aspects and that women (patients) require female doctors; which is a fact that no one is ignorant of, and that it is not permissible Islamically for a Muslim woman to expose her body to a male doctor due to an illness, therefore we must have Muslim female doctors. But how do we achieve this? On the basis of 'the end justifies the means' some people are of the view that we should allow our daughters, sisters and womenfolk to enter these mixed universities in order to acquire this knowledge because it is a communal obligation that is binding. We say: No! Because this mixing exposes our girls and women to temptation, especially if the type of medicine (study) requires the woman to come face to face with the male teacher...She exposes herself to temptation and thus problems arise, as you must have all heard a lot or a little about.