The Dangers of Having Female Teachers for Boys in Elementary Schools

by Shaikh Abdul Aziz ibn Baz



I have come across what the newspaper al-Madinah printed in Issue #3898, dated 2-30-1397 A.H., written by one calling herself Nura bint Abdullah, under the title, "Face to Face." In sum, Nura is saying that she had a meeting with a number of women, including the female Dean of a College of Education in Jeddah, whose name is Faiza. Nura mentions Faiza's surprise that there are no female teachers teaching boys in the elementary level, even to the fifth grade. Nura supported Faiza's views in that article for a number of reasons. Personally, with thanks to Faiza, Nura and their colleagues for the concern about the teaching of our young boys and for their welfare, I find it an obligation upon myself to point out that their suggestion is filled with evil and harmful consequences. Having women teach boys at the elementary level means that they will have to mix with the boys who are at puberty or adolescent stages, this is because some of the boys do not complete the elementary stage until they are already in adolescence, and some have already completed puberty. This is because, when a boy reaches ten years old, he is considered an adolescence. He naturally becomes inclined toward women. Someone like him can even get married and do what men do. And there is another matter, having women teach boys will lead to mixing between the two sexes at all levels. The evil results of such mixing in the schools are well-known. The devastating results that come from that type of teaching can be seen in other countries. Whoever has the smallest amount of knowledge of the shariah evidences and what is occurring to this Ummah during this age knows what definitely occurs to the boys and girls due to such practices. I believe that this suggestion has been inspired by Satan or some of his deputies upon the tongues of the above mentioned Faiza and Nura. It is, without a doubt, something that is pleasing to our enemies and the enemies of Islam, and is from what those enemies are calling for, openly and privately.

Therefore, I see that the door to this kind of practice must be completely closed. Our boys must be left to be taught by men at all levels of instruction. Similarly, the girls must be left to be taught by female teachers at all levels of instruction. This will preserve our religion, our boys and our girls. It will be sufficient for us for our respected female teachers to fulfill their responsibilities to the best of their abilities with purity, sincerity and pratience in teaching our girls. And the men must also fulfill their responsibilities with purity, sincerity and patience in teaching our boys at every level. It is also well known that a man has more patience and is stronger in teaching boys and he can give him more teachings in every level of schooling. It is well-known that the boys, in the primary and higher levels of education, respect and esteem their make teacher. they will be more willing to submit and accept what he says. If the women were teaching them at those different levels, they would not have the characteristics, patience and strength with them that men have. It has been authentically narrated from the Prophet (sal'Allaahu alayhi wa salam) that he said,

"Order your children to pray at the age of seven. And beat them [lightly] if they do not do so by the age of ten. And separate them in their bedding."[1]

This hadith points out what we have been saying about the dangers of mixing boys and girls at all levels of instruction. The evidence for that from the Quran, sunnah and the experience of the ummah today are many but I do not wish to mention them all here in order to be brief. The knowledge of our government, may Allah give them understanding, as well as the Minister of Education and the President of the Directory for Girls Education and is sufficient for us to go into this matter here. I ask Allah to grant us all what is good for this Ummah. And to make us and our make and female youth good. And to give them happiness in both this life and the Hereafter. He is the Hearer, Responder. And the peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and Companions.

Shaikh ibn Baz

[Islamic Fatawa Regarding Women: pg.61-63

Chapter: Questions Related To Knowledge]