Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad
Question:
My parents are not very practicing Muslims; however, when I try to commit to an Islamic program or the like, they restrict me, saying my studies will be disrupted or I’m being ‘too extreme.’ I want to do this not only for the sake of learning but also to be in an environment where I feel too ashamed to sin as I live in a very liberal society. I am a legal adult (secular and Islamically) as well. What is your advice on this?
Answer:
Assalamu alaykum,
Thank you for your question. It is wrong of your parents to stop you from studying as it is an obligation to learn personally obligatory knowledge, and there is no sin upon you for disobeying them in this.
Obligatory knowledge
If your parents didn’t teach you about the basics of your religion, it is obligatory for you to seek it on your own. Ma sha Allah, you have the keenness for this, and I pray that you talk to your parents politely and gently and explain to them that you deeply desire this and you won’t be happy otherwise. Do them a favor, and make sure that you balance your Islamic studies with your secular studies, and they will eventually come around to see how passionate you are about it and support you.
Please see details below on gaining obligatory knowledge:
https://seekersguidance.org/answers/education/islamic-educational-priorities/
https://seekersguidance.org/answers/seeking-knowledge/how-does-one-go-about-learning-islam/
Disobedience to parents
Although obedience to parents is central to Islam, they can be disobeyed in certain situations for the betterment of one’s religion and duty to Allah Most High. Please see those details and excellent advice below:
https://seekersguidance.org/answers/hanafi-fiqh/when-may-parents-be-disobeyed-and-how/
https://seekersguidance.org/answers/general-counsel/do-i-have-to-obey-my-parents-if-they-stop-me-from-listening-to-religious-talks/
May Allah give you and your parents the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafseer, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She recently moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.