Short answer
It is permissible when there is a real need or benefit and the child's faith is protected. The child must not take part in Christian worship, such as Mass, prayers, hymns, communion or making the sign of the cross. Parents should arrange an opt-out and give strong Islamic teaching at home.
Attending a non-Muslim school is permissible in itself, as gaining permitted knowledge is. Taking part in another religion's worship is haram, and entering places of non-Muslim worship without need is disliked. Parents carry the duty to protect the child's belief.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
The Prophet ﷺ said every child is born on the fitrah (natural faith), and it is the parents who make the child a Jew, a Christian or a Magian. Allah tells believers to protect their families from the Fire. School shapes a child's beliefs, so the choice of school is a religious decision as well as an academic one.
When it can work:
- There is no good Islamic school, or the Catholic school is clearly better and the state school has worse problems.
- The school allows Muslim pupils to opt out of worship and respects hijab, halal food and prayer times. Many Catholic schools in the US and UK do.
- The child is taught Islam at home, at the mosque or a weekend madrasah, and parents talk openly about what is taught.
Red lines:
- No joining in Mass, communion, prayers to anyone besides Allah, hymns of worship or the sign of the cross. Learning about Christianity as a subject is different from worshipping.
- If the school pressures the child to take part, move the child.
- Watch for confusion: young children absorb what they see. Teach the Islamic belief about Isa and Maryam so they can respect Christians without adopting their creed.
For the duties of parents see who raises the child. On Christmas at school see celebrating Christmas, and see Islam and Christianity.
Ask a mufti about your own case. This answer explains the general ruling. When the details of your situation matter, as they do here, ask a qualified mufti and give them the full facts. Where to ask a scholar.
The evidence
Quran, Surah At-Tahrim 66:6
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًۭا وَقُودُهَا ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱلْحِجَارَةُ عَلَيْهَا مَلَٰٓئِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌۭ شِدَادٌۭ لَّا يَعْصُونَ ٱللَّهَ مَآ أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ ﴿٦﴾
O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded.
Parents must guard their children's faith.
Quran, Surah Al-Kaafiroon 109:6
لَكُمْ دِينُكُمْ وَلِىَ دِينِ ﴿٦﴾
For you is your religion, and for me is my religion."
Muslims respect others but do not join their worship.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1385
Sahih... كل مولود يولد على الفطرة فأبواه يهودانه أو ينصرانه ...
"Every child is born on the fitrah, then his parents make him a Jew or a Christian."
Parents and upbringing shape a child's faith, so the environment matters.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Hazr wa al-Ibahah. Entering churches and joining non-Muslim rites is disliked or forbidden.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.