Fatwa #469238 January 2021South Africa
Studying Comparative Religion
Question
I want to be a maulana at a mosque in South Africa, even though I'd also be happy to just help as an expert within the Muslim community with existential problems, such as our youth struggling with atheism and how to guide them find faith from an intellectual approach/those losing faith due to their contrasting university education and various other youth challenges.
I am studying toward a Master in Divinity from a Christian seminary because I want to have a well-rounded comparative religion qualification so that I can write professionally about the truth of Islam compared to Judeo-Christianity. My work is meant to convince even Christian/Jewish academics/intellectuals to become Muslim and I felt the best way to do this is to get the best respected qualifications in their foundation courses so they cannot claim I don't know their books.
I live far in the Garden Route. The top online university theology courses I see in South Africa are just Christian courses. I couldn't find any online Alim courses in SA, not even at Unisa which is a problem for me. Furthermore, I can read the Quran in Arabic and perform my Islamic practises well, and have a solid general knowledge of Islamic theology from the Quran-Hadith but I don't think I will be able to learn Arabic fluently to complete an Alim course at the highest level to be a Maulana as per most requirements. That is one problem I have. One of my aims is to help spread Islam in the developing Garden Route areas.
The language and online method of study, makes the Christian courses easier for me to complete at Masters/PHD top academic level since Greek/Hebrew are optional/not compulsory. I will be done in 2 years with this Divinity masters. However, I'm a Muslim and want to work with Muslims as well as guiding non-muslims to Islam. Of course, I don't want to be a priest in a Church so I need advise on what I can do after my MDIV course to work for our Deen. Is there a way for me to take a few Islamic courses to upgrade my MDIV to work with Muslims (without having to be an expert in Arabic) or do I have to do all subjects on an Alim course? Perhaps there is a school in Knysna or George that can help me just fill in the gaps so that I can work in Islam.
Please advise.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu 'alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
It is pleasing to note that you wish to further you studies in Deen and become a Maulana. May Allah Ta'ala accept you for the Khidmah (service) of Deen.
We take note that you are currently studying in a Christian seminary. As Muslims we are averse to un-Islamic environments. Such environments have a negative effect on one's spirituality.
It should be noted that by default, one should not venture into interfaith studies except with the intention of propagating Islam. This too is contingent on one's certainty of not being affected by any aspects/beliefs of the other religions. It also must not entail attacking Islam or creating doubts within one's self regarding Islam.
It is important to understand that for one to defend and propagate Islam in comparative religious issues, one must possess a strong understanding of Islam in order to adequately answer the different objections posed against Islam. Certain topics may end up making one question his own faith. This can be detrimental to the Imaan of such a person who does not have a strong understanding and foundation of Islam.
Any individual wishing to undertake such a profession will have to study the different aspects of Islam, such as Aqaa'id (Islamic theology) Tafsir (exegesis of the Quran), Hadith, Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) etc.
To become an Aalim will require time and effort.
We are unaware of your current personal circumstances. If you are able to do a full time Aalim course, then we encourage you to do so.
However, if you are unable to do so, then we advise you to look for a reliable Aalim in your area to further your studies in Deen. It is imperative that you operate under the supervision and guidance of an expert in the field.
You state that you reside in the garden route. Mufti Taha Karan Sahib (Hafidhahullah) resides in Cape town. You may contact him at: mt_k@hotmail.com
And Allah Ta'āla Knows Best
Mudassir Benish
Student - Darul Iftaa
U.S.A
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.