Is it permissible to study in a mixed educational centre with better qualified teachers, when there is another centre where there is no mixing but the teachers are less qualified?
Question

                Here in Egypt, at the public secondary education level, students rely completely on classes offered in educational centres, because of the prevailing system. These classes include both males and females.

Is attending these classes, whilst disapproving and denouncing that, a sin?

If there is a teacher who does not allow mixing, but he is less qualified than the teacher who allows mixing, should I leave the one who is more highly qualified?
Praise be to Allah.
		Firstly: 

	In the answer to question no. 1200 we 
	explained the prohibition on free mixing and the negative consequences that 
	result from it, especially when it happens among youth in educational 
	settings. 

	Secondly: 

	in the answer to questions no. 70223 
	and 127946 we explained that in countries in which 
	the people are faced with free mixing in most areas of life, especially in 
	educational institutions and work places, there is a concession granted to 
	them in that regard which is not granted to others, based on the fiqhi 
	principle that “whatever is prohibited so as to bar the means that may lead 
	to evil may be permitted in cases of necessity and where doing so serves a 
	greater interest.” 

	However care should be taken to guard one’s tongue, lower 
	one’s gaze and avoid anything that may be a cause of temptation. 

	Thirdly: 

	This is in general terms, in places where this problem is 
	widespread and the Muslim is not able to change it. But in specific terms, 
	if a Muslim is able to enrol in a school in which there is no mixing, or in 
	an education centre or private classes in which the genders are separated, 
	then he must enrol in such classes, so as to avoid trouble and ward off 
	temptation, and so as to adhere to the limits set by Allah, may He be 
	exalted. 

	But if that is not available, or it is available to some 
	extent but there is a great difference in the educational level between the 
	two options, and he fears that he may be adversely affected or may miss out 
	on some benefits because of that, then in that case there is a concession 
	allowing him to enrol in that which is more beneficial to him, even if there 
	is free mixing in that place. However it is essential for him to denounce 
	the evil as much as he is able to, and to adhere to his religious commitment 
	and good manners, by remembering that Allah, may He be exalted, is always 
	watching. So he should guard his tongue, lower his gaze and avoid as much as 
	possible places where there is mingling and direct interaction. 

	Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) was 
	asked: What is the ruling on a woman going to a male doctor to treat her, 
	when there is a female doctor in the same specialty? 

	He replied:

	If the specialty is the same, and the man and the woman are 
	equal in terms of their skill level, then a woman should not go to the male 
	doctor, because there is no need to do so. 

	But if the man is more skilled than the woman, or more 
	specialised, then there is nothing wrong with the woman going to him, even 
	if there is a female doctor, because this is a case of need, and in case of 
	need such things are permissible.

	End quote from Fataawa ‘Ulama’ al-Balad al-Haraam (p. 
	693) 

	But if he is a person who fears that he may be tempted and 
	fall into sin, then he does not have the right to do that, because 
	preserving one’s religious commitment takes precedence over all other 
	interests. In that case he should leave these educational centres for the 
	sake of Allah, and enrol in a place that pays attention to separating the 
	sexes, even if its level of education is lower. Then he should strive hard 
	in his studies and think positively of his Lord, when he refrains from 
	attending the mixed institution for the sake of Allah, for whoever gives up 
	something for the sake of Allah, Allah will compensate him with something 
	that is better for him than it. 

	Please see the answer to question no. 
	50398 

	For more information, please see also the answer to question 
	no. 128996 

	And Allah knows best.