Is a Sharia College graduate’s place only in the mosque?!
Is it conceivable that a student spends four years or more studying at a Faculty of Sharia, delving into jurisprudence, its principles, legal maxims, the objectives of Sharia, and comparative fiqh, only to find that his sole post-graduation prospect is a position in a mosque, while being barred from numerous other fields? Certainly, no one diminishes the value of the imam, the preacher, or the muezzin; these are noble roles with their own esteemed status. However, the problem arises when we reduce the profile of a Sharia faculty graduate to these positions alone, as if years of specialized study do not open any other avenues for him.
The Faculty of Sharia is not merely an institute for training mosque imams. It is a university faculty with its own curricula and specializations, producing individuals with extensive knowledge of Islamic legal rulings, principles of legal deduction, and the foundations of Islamic jurisprudence, in addition to studying matters of transactions, personal status, and other topics directly linked to law and legislation. This raises the same question: If a Sharia graduate is only suitable for the mosque, why are these specializations taught at the university? And why are there no other career paths available that align with his education?
In Kuwait specifically, this issue appears even more significant, given that Islamic Sharia is a primary source of legislation. This means that the presence of Sharia specialists should not be confined to mosques; it is natural for them to play roles in institutions requiring religious research, legal and legislative studies, fatwas, personal status matters, and other areas that demand a genuine understanding of Sharia and its principles. This does not imply that a Sharia graduate must become a judge or lawyer simply by virtue of holding the degree, as every profession has its own requirements and specializations. However, it is illogical to close all other doors to him merely because he studied Sharia.
The matter is not just about employment, but about utilizing national human capital. When the state invests years in a university student’s education, it naturally seeks the best ways to benefit from his knowledge and specialization, rather than confining him to a single field regardless of his capabilities and qualifications. Indeed, combining religious and legal studies can create distinctive expertise in many fields, as law ultimately deals with texts, rulings, and principles, while Islamic Sharia possesses a vast jurisprudential and legislative heritage spanning centuries.
Therefore, the goal is not to eliminate or diminish the importance of mosque positions, but to correct the perception of the Sharia graduate. Just as we do not claim that a law graduate is only fit for legal practice, nor that an economics graduate can only work in accounting, it is illogical to assert that a Sharia graduate has no place except in the mosque. The mosque is one arena where a Sharia graduate can serve, but it is not the only one. The degree should be a gateway to opportunities, not a reason to close them.
A Sharia graduate has studied knowledge related to legislation, law, society, family, and transactions, and he has the right to find employment opportunities commensurate with his knowledge and competence, in accordance with the systems and regulations in force in the country. Ultimately, this is not merely a defense of Sharia graduates, but a call to utilize university specializations correctly. If we believe in the importance of education and specialization, we must also believe that a Sharia graduate is capable of serving his country in more than one field. The mosque is the most beautiful place for a Sharia graduate, but it is not his only place.
