Is It Against Adab to Leave an Online ‘Alim Program Halfway to Join an In-Person Institute?

Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch

Question

I am studying an online ‘Alim program due to a lack of local scholarship. I plan to transfer to an in-person institution in a few years. Is it against good adab to transfer halfway through the program instead of completing it online?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

As long as you respectfully communicate this to your current teachers, it is not against etiquette (adab) to switch from an online institute to an in-person institute mid-year. It would, however, be quite disrespectful to do so without informing them.

Ideally, you would consult your current teachers and discuss your difficulties and desire to have in-person classes before making such a decision. This is in addition to asking Allah Most High in the prayer of seeking guidance.

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he went on to study at Darul Uloom Seminary in New York and completed his studies at Darul Mustafa in Tarim, Yemen.

There, he completed the memorization of the Quran and his study of Islamic Sciences. Throughout his years of study, he was blessed to learn from many great scholars: Habib Umar bin Hafiz, Habib Kazhim al-Saqqaf, Shaykh ‘Umar bin Husayn al-Khatib, and others.

Upon returning, he joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.