The Ministry of Education’s refusal to allow teachers to travel during vacations

The questioner:
We ask for your assistance and a statement of the Shari'ah’s view regarding the Ministry of Education’s refusal to allow its employees to travel to their families and children during vacations.

The Shaykh:
I mean, a military person. Okay.

The questioner:
In the name of Allah. Yes, please go ahead.

The Shaykh:
Yes.

The questioner:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Yes. Yes. We ask for your assistance and a statement of the Shari'ah’s view regarding the Ministry of Education’s refusal to allow its employees to travel to their families and children during the mid-year vacation. Please note that they are willing to provide all the guarantees and commitments the Ministry requires. Also, there is no work that requires them to stay here. They have religious and worldly needs to help their families and children, whom they were unable to bring with them, and who have been staying here for a full year. They have not traveled to their families for a long time, and this causes harm to both parties: the teacher on one side, and his wife on the other. This is not hidden from you, so we ask you to issue your opinion to the Ministry of Education and listen to us.

The Shaykh:
We have interceded and written to the Ministry about this. They stated that the contract workers are not truthful, and that they do not return except late, making excuses with many pretexts. This one says he got sick, this one says such-and-such happened to him, this one says such-and-such occurred to him, and this one says such-and-such prevented him. As a result, the studies are disrupted. This is the answer from the Minister of Education: he says they make claims but are not truthful, or they are truthful in some matters that may hinder them from the studies, which we do not need. So, we hold that in this short, small vacation, they should not travel in order to preserve the studies and the students, because many of them are delayed for a long time with countless excuses. This is his excuse. We ask Allah for success for us and for him. Yes.

The questioner:
It is very rare, I mean, very rare. It is very rare, but they use it as an excuse.

The Shaykh:
They say it is not rare. It is very rare. They say it is not rare.

The questioner:
Because everyone is careful about their salary, because he pays the housing allowance in full before he travels.

The Shaykh:
We will reconsider it with him, we will re-examine it with him.

The questioner:
The teacher is careful to return so that he can take the money he paid.

The Shaykh:
I tell you now, if you want the Ministry to agree with you, fear Allah and take the initiative with the Ministry. If agreement is facilitated, fear Allah so that the water does not return. If you fear Allah, take the initiative, and fulfill the obligation, then the Ministry’s travel [permission] means that your staying is not required? Except that they say he is delayed. Yes.

Another questioner:
In reality, suddenly.

The Shaykh:
May Allah guide them, and may Allah guide them all.