[PymnImmen]

Asalaamualaykum,

I have a question and I have to make a final decision. In this month of Ramadaan please read, and leave a comment. I would be grateful if you can answer with all honesty, male or female. Yes it is long but please do give it a read. I am confused as to pursue a career in Dentistry or Medicine. After reading this you may turn away and may not want to answer, but PLEASE I really am in need of your help! My interest in medicine is greater than my interest in dentistry. However, when it comes to making a decision I feel that there is more to consider than just where one's interest lye. As a Muslim woman I do have other priorities, and please note I have not had an entirely Islamic upbringing (meaning I belong from the typical "moderate" Pakistani family) and have a long way to go down the road of Islamic knowledge.

I reside in the U.K and will pursue my Medical/Dental education and career in the U.K as well. I feel being a female I have to obviously look after a family as well in the future insha'Allah. Also I want to pursue Islamic education e.g. do an Alimah course, learn Arabic language...! You probably get the picture Now the problem I am facing is whether I can pursue these things alongside looking after a family, with a career or not. Yes I can probably study medicine with aalimah course, but not PRACTICE medicine alongside this and with a family. The practice of medicine in the initial years is very very demanding: night shifts, long, irregular hours- I fear that this will be a impractical profession for a women. However, on the other side of the picture I will be helping mankind and that is highly regarded in Islam and I will be pleasing Allah as well, and it is also sadaka jaariya.

I feel that Dentistry is a good option because it is a manageable career with family and I will be working regular hours and it is also flexible, even in your early stages. So I can learn, and preach Islam, and give time to children/ family insha'Allah. But, I feel that as a dentist I am not helping mankind as such and that really wont be regarded as sadaka jaariyah.

What is your view, your experiences! I am very young not even an undergraduate and married; and university and married life is something that I am in essence unaware of as I have obviously not experienced it yet. So, male female, married, un-married, please I would be grateful for your advice/ opinion in the holy month of Ramadaan please help me, Jazak'Allah, May Allah SWT bless you all, Ameen.

Wa'alaykumasalaam