What is the ruling on going to Western countries to learn a foreign language in order to obtain a high-paying job that yields a large salary in one’s Arab country?

The questioner:
The brother Abdul Rahman asks: What is the ruling on going to Western countries to learn English or French in order to obtain a high-paying job that yields a large salary in our Arab countries? May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh:
Going to the West to learn a foreign language is not among the necessities, nor even among the pressing needs, because it is possible to learn the language in the lands of the Muslims. Foreign languages are available in the lands of the Muslims, so one learns them there and does not need to travel to the lands of the disbelievers. In fact, this purpose is available in the lands of the Muslims; there are people there who teach foreign languages without traveling to the lands of the disbelievers.

The questioner:
This means that it is a pressing need.

The Shaykh:
It is a pressing need.

The questioner:
Do not make traveling to that country permissible as long as it is available in the lands of the Muslims; it does not make traveling to the lands of the disbelievers permissible.

The Shaykh:
Yes, do not make it permissible as long as one can obtain it in the lands of the Muslims. Also, regarding learning the language in the lands of the disbelievers, they mentioned that it is achieved by mixing them with disbelieving families. Yes, yes, they say it is to enable him to converse. If he mixes with disbelieving families, there are many evils in that, the greatest of which is fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), and may Allah protect us from it. Fitnah regarding women and falling into major sins. Yes.