In regard to Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence)

370

Q 6: Some Muslims in India establish non-Islamic modern schools which are authorized by the Indian government. To obtain such an authorization, they pay a large sum of money to the government by virtue of which the government grants authorization. Afterwards, school officials define a large sum of money as the school acceptance fees. Acceptance is conditional upon the fact that the acceptance test be made by the government and that the school be delivered a significant governmental certificate. However, after the test is made and the certificate is delivered, there remains a considerable sum of money from acceptance fees paid by students which the school officials take, justifying it to be all a commercial transaction.What is the ruling on such a transaction? Is it permissible for those officials to eat up such money?

A: It is not permissible for Muslims to open schools to teach disbelievers religions. Undoubtedly, this falls under helping one another in sin and transgression. Moreover, money acquired through such schools is ill-gotten.However, if such schools are opened to teach permissible worldly subjects such as engineering, writing, mathematics, linguistics and the like, it will be unobjectionable. As for the remainder of the student acceptance fees, they will be due to school officials in case they are taken in return for educational services and their remainder will be due to (Part No. 12; Page No. 198) students after graduation in case they are taken as student finance.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.