MD vs. PhD

This was a lecture given by Shaykh Yasir Qadhi at the MSA East Zone Conference in Newark, NJ in April 2008. It was about many young people's desire to pursue Islamic Studies and become scholars as a profession. He gave good advice as to what to do when your plans do not work out the way you want them too, and helped many people (especially me) realize that just because I'm not a scholar does not make me any less of an important person.

• Many people want to pursue Islamic Studies because "traditional" college majors, such as pre-med, pre-law, humanities, etc. are not spiritually fulfilling. Most college aged students, however, are not supported by their parents in their desire to pursue Islamic Studies.
• Secular studies, however, is helpful in many ways that we do not realize going through college. It helps you learn how to study, it teaches you the art of passing an exam, and having a secular degree helps you understand your audience when you are lecturing. A scholar lecturing to a bunch of college students will have more of an effect if he himself went to college in the US and experienced everything that the students are now going through. This applies to almost any group of people who you are trying to reach out to. They will be more willing to listen to you if you "speak their language".
• Shaykh Yasir Qadhi spent ten years studying at the University of Medina. As an undergrad, he majored in Chemical Engineering, however what he really wanted to do was pursue Islamic Studies. He's now pursuing a PhD from Yale University. He admits that as an undergrad, he wanted to narrow his options to only Islamic Studies, but now that he is more experienced he wants to expand his options to better understand his own field.
• The Muslim Ummah cannot only consist of 'ulamah. The Ummah needs doctors, lawyers, teachers, etc. Every person in the Ummah is needed. the Ummah needs you for who you are and everyone must realize that they all have their own sphere of influence. The needs you no matter what you do. Never trivialize your role in the Ummah. You may not get all the fame and importance as scholars and speakers, but instead of just talking you'll actually be taking action.
• Your actions might not be famous or in the papers, people will not know your name, but Allah SWT will know who you are and what you've done. Does it really matter whether or not other people know what you've done, as long as Allah SWT knows?
• Don't make the mistake of thinking that most of the Sahabah sat around studying 'ilm all day and never worked. There are very few Sahabah who actually did that. Most of them had jobs and worked to earn there living, and studied Islam in their spare time.
• Before making any major decisions you should: Make Istikhara and make Istishara (asking for advice. This is encouraged in Islam).
• Money is not at all related to happiness. Iman is what makes happy.
• Experience teaches you way more than what books can ever teach you.
• Some advice for those that want to study Islamic Studies: Islamic Studies is not black and white. There are many shades of gray. If you don't become a full fledged da'i, it's not a big deal. You can't be idealistic and think that either you become a da'i or you're a failure. Be productive and realistic. Do what you can. Study Islam as much as you can, but also pursue your own thing. Everyone MUST work, and whatever you plan to do is important and necessary for the community.
• Everyone can earn Jannah, no matter what their role or job is. Have pure intentions in whatever you do, and keep your deen close.
• Some advice for women: Seriously thing about what profession you want to do. Think about what you want to do with your children. Do you want to raise them yourself or have family members or a daycare raise them? Remember that no one can love your children as much as you do. Islam never banished women to the role of only housewives, but you must think about the career that you are pursuing and what you are sacrificing to pursue it. Whatever you choose is okay, as long as you remember what is required of you as a Muslim woman.
• If your heart feels guilty or has some doubt about something, than it is giving you a fatwa, and this fatwa is halal.