Fatwa ID: 05267

Answered by: Mufti Eunus Ali

Question

Asalamwalaikum thanks for answering my questions. My situation: I’m 19 living with my parents in Spain. After finishing high school I intended to study Islamic studies, this was just when I tried to become steadfast in religion and I made a change alhamdulillah, however my parents refused, so I was obliged to study secular studies here in Spain. Now I’m studying for an English degree and I’m in the second year, (the degree consists of 4 years). Now I really want to leave because I feel I’m involved in different kinds of sins which are due to the non-islamic environment of the university. The major sin that pushed me to take this decision is when we are in class and they’re are teaching philosophy matters or kufr matters I feel shy to leave the class. Likewise, other smaller sins than this one may play their role. I think that also what pushed me to take this decision is the fact that I’m overloaded with work which I do not want to do and it’s difficult for me to combine between hifdh al Quran hifdh al mutun and pass the exams in the university. I’m about to pray salat istikhara. But what stopped me is that (I think) my father when he becomes very very angry his blood pressure goes up which is the symptom of one’s anger, so I thought that perhaps my father would become sick because of me. Notice that my parents will become extremely angry becomes of my decision but this anger is not what stopped me from noticing my final decision but what made me doubt is the fact that my father may become sick because of me. So my question is: can I take this decision of dropping out of this degree that I do not want to study and see if my father suffers from such a thing, in fact, it is normal in old people (the age of my dad: 55 years old) that when they become angry the blood pressure increases. Please advise.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer

We would recommend that you explain to your parents the difficulties you are facing in university in a polite and respectable manner and the impact it is having on your Iman(faith).

If you feel that they may not be ready to listen to you perhaps you may ask other senior family members or even the local imams/scholars to speak on your behalf highlighting the benefits of seeking sacred Islamic knowledge.

However, it should be kept in mind that under no circumstances can we be disrespectful, rude and disobey our parents if they do not understand the situation at hand.

Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrated that: the Prophet (peace be upon Him) said: “The Lord’s pleasure is in the parent’s pleasure, and the Lord’s anger is in the parent’s anger.”[1]

In the meantime, benefits should be taken from the local Imams and scholars in any spare time you may have.

If your parents are not willing to allow you to leave your course you may look into studying Islam after you have completed your course.

Salatul Istikharah should also be prayed as this is making consultation with Allah just as you are making consultation with us.

We make dua that Allah makes your situation easy for you and grants you the best of this life and the hereafter.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Mufti Eunus Ali

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

[1] Sunan At-Tirmidhi: 1899