The ruling on traveling to seek knowledge or perform 'Umrah without the parents' consent

Question:
Thank you, Your Eminence the Shaykh. May Allah bless you and make your knowledge beneficial, and may Allah reward you with the best reward for us and for the Muslims. The questioner asks: Is the consent of the parents a condition for traveling to seek knowledge or to perform 'Umrah? And if I consent and they set a time limit for me, is it permissible for me to exceed that time limit?

Answer:
It is necessary to have the parents' consent, and it is necessary to take their permission. This is because obedience to them comes after obedience to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). So their permission is required. However, you must be gentle with them, and you must explain the need for your travel. I do not think they will object to your travel if you clarify your intention to them and explain the benefit of your travel. I do not think they will object unless they need you. If they need your presence with them, then staying with them takes precedence over everything else, even over jihad in the cause of Allah. This is because a man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) wanting to go out to fight and strive in the cause of Allah. He said to him, "Are your parents alive?" He said, "Yes." He said, "Then strive in serving them." If they need you, then you stay with them, and this is better for you than seeking knowledge. You stay with them and are dutiful to them, and you attend to their needs. If they do not need you, then convince them that your travel is for a valid purpose and for seeking knowledge, and that they are partners with you in the reward. I do not think they will object to that. And if they set a time limit for you, do not exceed it. When the time limit is up, either you return, or you speak to them by mobile phone or by telephone or by any means to make it clear to them that you will be delayed, and you ask them for their forgiveness.