Search In Fatwa

Obey Your Father If The Knowledge Is Not Compulsory

Question

I want to ask you that my father does not permit me to go to Madinah for study. He says I should become something else, other than a scholar to live a good life. I agree with his opinion but I love very much to study with the great Ulamah of Madinah.
Can I go to Madinah without the permission of my father?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

It is unlawful for you to disobey your father and go to Madeenah. On the contrary, you should obey your father as his obedience is an obligation upon you. Allah Says (what means): {And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents.} [Quran 17:23]

The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “The parent is the middle gate of Paradise. So miss that gate or preserve it.” [At-Tirmithi] So, we advise you to study the subject matter your father suggested to you as long as it does not go against the Sharee’ah rulings. You may then study Sharee’ah knowledge getting at the same time the Pleasure of Allah and that of your father. Nevertheless, you can go against your father's will if what you will study is obligatory like Aqeedah (Islamic creed) which helps you recognize your Lord and Creator, and like studying the rulings related to Tahaarah (purity), which is the key to valid prayer and similar obligatory subjects. In this case, you can disobey your father because obedience is due only in that which is accepted by the Sharee’ah. ‘Ali Ibn Abu Talib  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him narrated that the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “Obedience is only in what is permissible and reasonable.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Allah knows best.

Related Fatwa