Is it permissible for a 16-year-old girl to choose to study gynecology, knowing that this may require seeing and touching the private parts of both men and women, and should she pursue another field if it is not permissible?

No one doubts the need for Muslim societies to have female Muslim doctors, as many Muslims find it extremely awkward when they cannot find a female doctor to examine their wives, daughters, and sisters.

Learning medicine is a communal obligation (fard kifaya), because the interests of people cannot be upheld without it. Whatever is essential for the general interests of Muslims is considered a communal obligation.

The fundamental principle in studying medicine is that the female student should strive for a non-mixed study environment and adhere to the rulings of Islamic law.

It is permissible for a female student to view and touch the 'awrat (private parts) of men and women for the purpose of learning, and this ruling applies equally to male and female students.

The general rule is the obligation to cover the 'awra, but it is permissible to uncover the 'awra and view it if there is a need or if a legitimate Islamic interest necessitates it. This includes male and female students viewing the 'awrat of women during gynecology and obstetrics procedures. This is to achieve a great legitimate Islamic interest, which is to provide Muslim doctors (male and female), and this wards off the harm of needing non-Muslims.

What is forbidden as a means (tahrim wasa'il) becomes permissible out of necessity. The need of Muslim societies for the presence of female doctors is undeniable. Therefore, it is permissible for male and female students to look at 'awrat with the intention of learning the medical profession. Whatever the need for learning and the profession requires, such as seeing or touching 'awrat, is permissible in the context of this need.