Q: All praise be to Allah Alone, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger, and his family and Companions.The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’ has reviewed the question presented by the principal of girls' education to the chairman of the Departments of Scholarly Research, Ifta’, Daw‘ah, and Guidance, which was referred to it from the General Secretariat, ref. No. 18/2, dated 10/1/94. It reads as follows: "In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia some companies and organizations hire Christians who want to send their daughters to the government schools. I hope that your respectable department will study the possibility of accepting these girls, with the aim of inviting them to Islam through education, as this is one of the best ways to convey the Da‘wah (call to Islam). The problem that we faced in respect of Da‘wah in the past, was the persistent refusal to accept the Christians in Muslim schools. However, as we are enjoined to convey Islam and call to it all human beings, we hope that Allah will help us realize this through the medium of education, bearing in mind that the curriculums include (Part No. 12; Page No. 154) teaching the Qur’an and its Tafsir (explanation/exegesis of the meanings of the Qur’an).I hope to receive your answer to my letter as soon as possible."

After the committee studied the question, it answered as follows: A: It is a well-established religious matter that it is obligatory on Muslims, especially the scholars and rulers, to convey the Islamic Shari‘ah (Islamic law) - its fundamental as well as subsidiary matters - to all people, regardless of whether they are Muslims or Kafirs (disbelievers). Everyone should do this according to the ability, authority, knowledge and word power that Allah has granted them, in the best way. The Prophet (peace be upon him) conveyed the Din (religion) in different ways, according to circumstances and what the need demanded. He wrote to kings inviting them and their people to Islam; he went himself to the tribes and the meeting places of the Kafirs to call them to the Islamic Shari‘ah; he guided the delegations of Mushrikin (those who associate others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) to Tawhid (belief in the Oneness of Allah/monotheism) and the religious rulings they needed to know; and he taught the details of the Din to the believers and the various delegations attending his gatherings. He also sent Du‘ah (callers to Islam) and governors to many destinations to convey the call to Tawhid, disseminate the principles of Islam, and to carry out the legal judgments in the correct manners in the places they were sent to.There is no doubt that studying in Islamic schools, which have curriculums that include the teaching of Islam, its foundations and subsidiary matters, and other necessary relevant subjects, such as the Arabic language, is one of the best ways of calling people to Allah, (Part No. 12; Page No. 155) conveying His Law, and disseminating the principles of Islam. Therefore, we think that you should accept those who apply to the principal for girls’ education from among the Christians or others, to educate their daughters in the girls’ schools under the auspices of the principal. Additional enquiries should be made and supervision given to the girls that are accepted, to avoid any Fitnah (trial) that may result from the mixing, and an agreement should be made that they will observe the Islamic etiquettes in the school, in terms of being dressed modestly and other related matters.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.