Wants to study and live in Canada

30-4-2003 | IslamWeb

Question:

I want to pursue my education in non-Muslim country (Canada) because the subject that I want is not well developed in Muslim countries, so is it possible? I want to settle there because I want to practice Islam after I take Islamic course from Islamic American university. Is it possible?

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Answer:

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions. If you can guard your religion and you have sound faith with Islamic knowledge that could resist the doubts and desires then you may study in such countries, provided you cannot get proficiency in the related subject that is compulsory for the sake of Islam and Muslims in any Muslim country. Living there for the purpose of preaching Islam is permissible as long as you can guard your religion and keep yourself away from prohibitions. In this case, staying there is a kind of Jihad for the sake of Allah. Know that the above rulings are applicable only for men. In the case of a woman there are two more conditions: A) She should be accompanied by a Mahram in her travel and during her stay. The condition of having a Mahram during a travel is proved by a Hadith that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) prohibited a woman to travel without being accompanied by a Mahram. The general ruling in Shariah is that protecting the honor is obligatory and generally a woman cannot protect herself, so she should stay with a Mahram to protect her honor. B) The studies should suit the nature of women and should not cause, in the present or the future a mixing with opposite sex. Allah knows best.