Sheikh Albani on the principle of 'The ends justify the means'

Questioner: The first thing I begin my speech with is (to say), I love you for Allah's sake. Sheikh: May the One for who's sake you loved me love you back. I live with your love and righteous supplications Insha'Allah. Questioner: May Allah bless you our sheikh. I want clarification with regards to studying in universities. There are some brothers in Algeria who heard your fatwa on this issue (i.e. Prohibition of studying in mixed institutes). I mean, some brothers said this fatwa is only valid for countries which have mixed and non-mixed universities...and others have said that it is valid for all countries. So I want you to clarify this issue. Sheikh: What I understand from this differentiation from some of them is that they proceed in this differentiation upon a well-known principle - although (according to Islam) it is unknown! The principle states: الغاية تبرر الوسيلة 'The end justify the means' The meaning of this saying is that this knowledge (i.e. university studies) is mandatory. So if there is a non-mixed university, then this is the path to acquire this knowledge, but if there is no such university except the mixed university, then 'the end justifies the means'; the 'end' being attainment of such knowledge and the 'means' being this mixed university. We say: This principle is not known in Islam. This principle is from the principles of the kuffar. They are the ones who spread this principle through their actions and their culture... The Shari'ah does not permit Haraam means in order to attain a legitimate interest. On the contrary, at times Islam prevents seeking a particular interest in order to ward off (the consequent) evil. But here the affair is the complete opposite, 'the end justifies the means'; meaning, you can take a means (even if it is Haraam) in order to achieve an interest. Here comes to my mind the old poetry (line) from which I only memorise the second part. Perhaps the professor will aid us with his memorised collection. I have only memorised his saying: ليت لم تزني ولم تتصدقي What is the first part? Interjection: كمُطعمة الأيتام من كد فرجها *** ويل لك لا تزني ولا تتصدقي. Like one who feeds orphans (from money earnt) through prostitution *** Woe to you, leave off fornication and leave off giving charity. Sheikh: So this (woman) fornicates for what reason? Her goal is to give in charity. She fornicates then builds a Masjid with her illicit earning. This earning is void of the reward that one seeks to attain from building a Masjid. 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.