Is the work of an intern doctor considered unlawful (haram) due to his not yet having obtained a license to practice, taking into account that the Islamic legal criterion is the doctor's competence and ability to perform, not legal certificates?

A medical student is not permitted to work as a doctor before obtaining a license, for several reasons:

1. Law and Public Interest: It is obligatory to adhere to the laws set by the state to achieve public interest. Delaying the issuance of a license until the completion of the internship year aims to achieve the required qualification for the medical profession, which concerns people's lives and safety. A student before licensing is considered unqualified, and jurists have stipulated the permissibility of interdicting an ignorant doctor. 2. Removal of Harm: The Sharia came to remove harm, and an unqualified student may cause great harm by practicing the profession alone. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: «There should be neither harm nor reciprocal harm.» 3. Forbidden Deception: A student practicing medicine before obtaining a license falls under the category of deception, as most patients would not agree to be treated by an intern. Concealing this from them is considered deception. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: «Whoever cheats is not of me.»

This does not prevent a student from intervening to save a person from peril if he knows how to save them, which differs from independently practicing the profession.