The Danger of Women Teaching Boys in Primary School

I examined the article published by the newspaper, "Al- Madinah', issue no. 3898, dated 30th Safar 1397 AH., written by one who calls herself "Nurah Bint...", under the heading:
"Face-to-face."

The essence of what this Nurah said is that she had a meeting- along with a number of women with the Dean of the College of Education in Jeddah, Fa'izah Ad-Dibagh and this Nurah attributed to Fa'izah that she expressed surprise that female teachers did not undertake the teaching of our boys at the primary school level, even if only up to the fifth grade. This Nurah supported her due to the reasons to which she (Faizah) alluded in her speech. I while offering my thanks to Fa'izah, Nurah and their colleagues for their concern regarding the matter of educating our young boys and their desire for their wellbeing consider that it is my duty to call attention to the dangers and unhealthy results of this suggestion which is that if women undertake the teaching of boys at the primary school level, it will lead to their mixing with boys who have reached the age of puberty and boys who have reached maturity, because some boys do not enter primary school except when they have reached the age of puberty and some of them might even be adults. When a boy reaches ten years of age, he is considered to have started puberty, and naturally, he feels inclined towards women, because the like of him may marry and do what a man does.

There is also another matter, which is that the education of boys by women at the primary school level leads to mixing, which continues to the other levels, and this opens the door to mixing at all levels without a doubt. The consequences of mixed schooling, including all manner of corruption and unhealthy results, which those who have had this kind of education in other countries have observed. And every person with even the slightest knowledge of the legal evidences and of the situation of the (Muslim) community in these times who has an Islamic understanding of our sons and daughters knows this, without any doubt. I consider this suggestion to have been placed by Satan or one of his agents on the tongues of the aforementioned Faizah and Nurah and it is doubtlessly one which will please our enemies and the enemies of Islam and one to which they call openly and in secret.

For this reason, I consider that it is necessary that this door be completely closed and that our sons continue to be taught by men at all levels, just as our daughters should continue to be taught by women teachers at all levels. In this way we may preserve our religion and our sons and daughters and prevent. this retroactive step from our enemies. And it is sufficient from our honorable female teachers that they exert all of their efforts, with complete sincerity, honesty and perseverance in the education of our daughters. And it is incumbent upon the men to exert all of their efforts, with complete sincerity, honesty and perseverance in the education of our sons at all levels. And it is well known that men are more patient in teaching boys and stronger therein and better at it than female teachers at all levels of teaching, just as it is well known that the boys at primary school level and above respect a male teacher and honor him and listen better and more completely to what he says, than if the teacher was a woman. In addition, there is in all of this, the training of a boy in the manners of men, their nobility, patience and strength. And it has been authentically reported from the Prophet that he said:
"Order your sons to pray from seven years old, and beat them (if they do not do so) by ten years; and put them in separate beds."

This noble Hadith proves what we have said regarding the great danger of mixing between boys and girls at all levels. And the proofs for this from the Book (of Allah) and the Sunnah and the present situation of the (Muslim) community are numerous.. We see no need to mention them here, for reasons of brevity. And in the knowledge of our government may Allah grant them success and in the knowledge of His Excellency, the Minister of Education and the knowledge of His Eminence, the Director General of Girls' Education and the wisdom of all of them (in understanding these matters), Allah has granted them success which needs no claboration.

I ask Allah that He grant us success in all matters in which there is righteousness and salvation for the community and righteousness for us, and for our young men, and women, and happiness for them, in the life of this world and in the Hereafter..

Verily, He is All-hearing, Near. And may peace be upon our Prophet, Muhammad and upon all his family and Companions.