is it permissible for a person to become an alim e deen when his parennts are not supporting his decision to the extent that they are challenging that persons decision and even get ill when that persons becomes steadfast on the path to become alim…..My father has a good job and my brother has a good job too ..im am the younger one and want to persur ilme deen after ALLAH talla has given me hidayat at the age of 20 …currently i was doing my mba from a good university but due to the following facts i left it
1. to much shamelessness all arround
2.my going to place of sin is against sunnah
3. idonot want to study westren studies any more since they impart their culture through it even if it is done in private ..
4. would a shahabi e rasool go to the same university that i went ( i think not) and would a shahabi e rasool sallaoalihiwasalam learn westeren studies before learning quran e pak ….i think not too
5.. my parent donot need my help financially as i mentioned my father is on a good job and my brother too is on one which is good and they donot need my help physically as we have 3 femal servants that come in the morning and leave in the afternoon nad two drivers to do the house hold chores…
so in all these condition iam facing a lot of reisstance in becoming an alim so that my mother tells me that if becoome an ilme ur father would become hurt and get ill …
one point more is that my father is not against alim course but he wants me to do an mba first and then an alim ..but for the above reasons i choose not to do so …
some ullama of karachi think im doing right some say obey ur father as alim is not fard …which i know but do ihave not right ot learn nad practice islam when every one knows that death can strike any time ……
In the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Assalāmu ῾alaykum wa Rahmatullāhi Wabarakātuh
There are three angles to your query:
a) Should you obey your parents by perusing a circular degree?
b) Should you obey them even though it will lead to sin?
c) Should you pursue your goal in becoming an Alim?
Each of the above should be viewed in its correct perspective.
Your parents, irrespective of their viewpoints and ideologies, enjoy much authority over you and deserve your respect towards them. You should not be overpowered by your emotions. Your parents will never desire evil and harm for you. Perhaps their vision of life is different and feel you will excel in a certain field. Their decision may be based on external factors which are unknown to you. Take up the courage to have an open discussion with your parents. Explain to them the revolution that has taken place within you, the reasons why you oppose studying in the university and your inclination towards studying the knowledge of Deen. In this manner, you will have a better understanding why they are opposed to you studying Deen and they will also realise your determination to study Deen.
If the university is as evil as you have described and you fear your Imān being at stake if you attend such a university, then placing your life and Imān before you, you should not attend such a university.
Rasulullah (sallallāhu alaihi wasallam) has mentioned:
“There is no obedience for any creation (which entails) in the disobedience of the creator i.e. Allah”
(Al-Mu’jamul Kabīr)[1]
It is not obligatory upon every individual to study and become an Alim. However, it is obligatory upon every individual to acquire that amount of knowledge which will grant him the ability to differentiate between Halāl and Harām and to practise on the injunctions of Deen. In the same light, it is also not obligatory to pursue a circular degree.
After discussing the issue with your parents, if they insist that you should pursue a circular degree, in order to keep them happy and to fulfil your wonderful dream of becoming an Alim, suggest to study the Alim course which you are happy with and continue your circular studies via correspondence.
Please Allah and also keep your parents happy, Allah will grant you Barakah (blessings) in all that you do, Ameen.
And Allāh Ta῾āla Knows Best
Wassalāmu ῾alaykum
Ml. Rayhaan Docrat,
Student Dārul Iftā
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Dārul Iftā, Madrasah In῾āmiyyah