What Are My Parent’s Rights over Me as I Wish to Study Religion Abroad?
Answered by Ustada Shazia Ahmad
Question
I am 19 and going to complete my hifz and Accountancy degree by May 2024 in sha Allah. After graduating I would like to study the deen in a madrasa. Please advise the right of my parents over me. I am the only child. Alhamdulilah we are a wealthy family and both my parents are middle-aged and healthy. I want to study in Pakistan. My father is fine with me studying in sha Allah but my mother is very attached to me and is saying no. Can you provide any duas to increase my brainpower capability and memory?
Answer
Thank you for your question. May Allah reward you for your intention and help bring your goals to fruition. Your aim is noble Ma sha Allah.
Parents
Your mother doesn’t have a right to hold you back from studying the religion. Parents have the right to be treated well, but they don’t have the right to make your career or study decisions for you. Alhamdulillah you are blessed that they are self-sufficient, and don’t require your presence. Study now while they are still healthy and well. You should go ahead and study in a madrasa, pray istikhara first about the best place to study; I don’t have any information about the one that you mentioned.
Please see more details here:
The reward for studying is great and I’m sure your mother will come around in sha Allah when she sees the benefits and fruits of your labour. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “He who follows a path in quest of knowledge, Allah will make the path of Janna easy to him. The angels lower their wings over the seeker of knowledge, being pleased with what he does. The inhabitants of the heavens and the earth and even the fish in the depths of the oceans seek forgiveness for him. The superiority of the learned man over the devout worshipper is like that of the full moon to the rest of the stars (i.e., in brightness). The learned are the heirs of the Prophets who bequeath neither dinar nor dirham but only that of knowledge; and he who acquires it, has in fact acquired an abundant portion.” [Abu Dawud & Tirmidhi]Please see these links for tips for seeking knowledge:
[Ustada]Shazia Ahmad
Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqida, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, 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 later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.
