Is homeschooling allowed in Islam?

What this page is, and is not

This page collects what named scholars and institutions have written. It is not a fatwa. We are not scholars, and we do not decide for you.

Muslims differ on how to weigh schooling choices, and the scholars below do not all say the same thing. Read each answer in full on the original site, because a short quote cannot carry the whole question that was asked.

What named scholars have said

These are answers published by scholars and institutions, reached through IslamQA.org. Each quote is word for word, and each links to the full answer.

Mufti Faizal Riza

The Darul Ifta Australia answer is about sending children to public schools. In it, Mufti Faizal Riza says: “Home schooling is another viable and good option.” In the same answer he says it is not permissible to send children to a state school where there is fear of them being influenced by or becoming fond of non-Islamic beliefs, practices or lifestyle, and that a good Islamic school is preferable. Read the question and the rest of the answer, because the quote is one line from a longer reply.

Ustadha Zaynab Ansari

This answer was written to a teenager who wanted to homeschool while the parents wanted the child to stay in public school. Ustadha Zaynab Ansari says: “Putting you and your sister in public school is undesirable, not haram. Therefore, if they ask you to stay, you should.”

Two points matter here. She does not say homeschooling is forbidden, and she does not say public school is forbidden. She also advises a young person to follow parents who ask them to stay. Her answer is about a child’s duty to parents as much as it is about the school.

She also writes: “I was home-schooled and I had a good experience.” In the same answer, on a male tutor teaching two girls alone at home, she says: “It would be much better to have a female instructor.”

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad of SeekersGuidance, in answers published through IslamQA.org, says: “It is not categorically prohibited to send your child to a non-Muslim school, but one should weigh the factors and choose the best thing for their family.”

In a separate answer she says: “Homeschooling might work, especially if there is a homeschooling co-op in your community.” She presents a co-op as something that can help, not as a requirement.

The principle behind the question: parents are responsible

Many families who ask this question are really asking how to meet a duty toward their children. Two texts come up often.

The Quran. Surah At-Tahrim 66:6, in the Sahih International translation on Quran.com:

“O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded.”

The hadith. Sahih al-Bukhari 893, as shown on Sunnah.com. Ibn Umar reports that he heard the Messenger of Allah say that all of you are guardians and responsible for your wards and the things under your care, and that “a man is the guardian of his family and is responsible for them.” Sunnah.com shows this report in Sahih al-Bukhari with no separate grading line. The English wording above is from the translation shown on that page.

These texts speak of the parent’s responsibility for the family. They do not name schooling. Scholars read them alongside other evidence, and they apply them to schooling choices in different ways. We do not read them as a ruling for or against homeschooling, and we do not want you to take them that way either.

Common concerns families raise

The concerns below come up often. We list what families commonly weigh, and where Islamic law is involved we point you back to a scholar.

Socialization

Many parents worry that a child at home will miss time with other children. Families commonly address this with regular activities outside the home: a weekly co-op, sports, a masjid class, time with relatives and neighbors. If you plan this on purpose, it becomes a normal part of the week. See how to start homeschooling for a first-month plan, and Muslim homeschool co-ops for what a co-op can look like.

”I do not know enough Islam”

Many parents worry about this. A few things help:

1. You do not need to know everything before you begin. Many families learn beside the child.
2. Use a graded curriculum from a publisher so that you are not building lessons from scratch. See Islamic homeschool curriculum.
3. Put the Quran and Arabic with a qualified teacher if you are not confident yourself. Many families use a mix of home teaching and a tutor or class.
4. Bring your own questions to a scholar. You can keep learning while you teach.

Mixed-gender co-ops and classes

Some families join co-ops, classes or sports where boys and girls, or men and women, are in the same room. Scholars and communities hold different views on how that should be handled. As one named view, Ustadha Zaynab Ansari says a male tutor teaching two girls alone at home is not appropriate, while a male instructor teaching a group in a supervised setting like the masjid “might be okay” (see her answer above). The answer can depend on the children’s ages, the setting and the supervision. We do not take a side. Ask a scholar in your own area, and ask the co-op how it organizes its sessions before you join.

Public school, Islamic school or home

Homeschooling is one of several choices. Our page on homeschool versus Islamic school sets out the practical differences, so you can bring a clear picture to the scholar you ask.

How to ask a scholar well

A scholar can answer your question better when they know your situation. A short checklist helps.

• Describe your family. The children’s ages, the town, what school would look like for them, and why you are considering homeschooling.
• Name the specific worry. For example, “I am worried about my child’s Quran learning” is easier to answer than “Is homeschooling allowed?”
• Say what is available near you. Which Islamic school, weekend school, co-op or masjid class exists, if any.
• Ask about your own limits. For example, what to do if you cannot teach Arabic or tajweed yourself.
• Ask who else you should speak to. A scholar may suggest a teacher or another family with experience.
• Do not rely on a screenshot of a short answer. Read the whole question and reply.

Reading these answers fairly

A few habits keep you from over-reading a short quote:

• Check the question. Each answer above responds to a particular person. One was about a teenager and parents who disagreed, and one was about a family weighing schools.
• Check the date and the school of thought. The sources come from different institutions and different traditions. They are not one voice.
• Notice what is not said. None of the quotes above tells every family to homeschool, and none tells every family to avoid it.
• Keep your own duties in view. A family also has duties around prayer, Quran and character, however the child is schooled.

Ask a scholar you trust

We hope the quotes above help you frame the question. They do not replace a scholar who knows you, your children and your circumstances. If you do not have one, a local imam or a trusted teacher at your masjid is a good place to start, and online services such as SeekersGuidance and IslamQA.org publish answers from named scholars.

When you have an answer, you can start practically with our guide to how to start homeschooling as a Muslim family.