Traveling for Religious Knowledge Against Parents’ Wishes

Question

A certain Muhammad Mukarram is going abroad to acquire religious knowledge, and his parents want Muhammad Mukarram not to leave them and live abroad, but rather to stay with them and try to earn something, so that they may spend their final years in comfort. But Muhammad Mukarram does not wish, in any way, to abandon the pursuit of knowledge and ruin his life by taking up worldly work; rather, he is prepared for not only his parents but the whole world to become displeased with him and sever all ties with him,…

Answer

Acquiring religious knowledge to the extent of necessity is an individual obligation (fard ‘ayn), but completing the full course of study is not an individual obligation. If the parents are in need and unable to earn, then it is obligatory upon the son to serve them to the extent of his ability: remaining at home, he may go on acquiring some knowledge little by little while…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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