I want to study Islam abroad. My parents insist on me staying and studying at University…

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,

Your desire to learn sacred and Islamic knowledge is commendable. May Allah Most High give you great success in this world and the hereafter, Ameen.

As far as how to go about this, it really depends on a variety of things: time-limit, resources, being able to travel, marriage and most importantly what you really intend to do.

If you wish to study the various sciences of Islamic knowledge in depth, then this will require great effort, time and perseverance. You may enroll into a local institution (Madrasa or Dar al-Uloom) if one is present in your city/country and take up the full course of becoming a scholar. Alternatively, you may travel abroad to somewhere like Syria or Jordon and study there.

Then there is also the issue of your marriage, which you don’t want to delay too much. Hence, I suggest that you find a suitable spouse for marriage who himself is willing to study and/or travel, thus you could marry after completing your degree and travel with your husband in pursuit of sacred knowledge. In this way, the issue of having a Mahram will also be solved. If you are able to marry someone who already is quite learned, then that will be an added bonus, Insha Allah.

Also, discuss this with your parents, family, friends and a local scholar who may be able to give you more information regarding institutions of Islamic learning in your area.

Wassalam

Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari
Darul Iftaa, Leicester, UK