Is a person who travels for the purpose of study considered to have two places of residence?

The questioner : A Muslim may have two places of residence. Yes. With this view, we are relieved of the burden of people who stay for years for study or work. Yes. Is there anything that supports this view?

The Shaykh : How? Because those who intended to reside did not intend an absolute residence, nor did they intend to make that country their home. For example, if a person has a residence in Ta'if during the summer and a residence in another town during the winter, he has two homelands; he has two homelands where he is permanently settled. As for the one who went for study, he says, "If I were given my degree today..." There is a difference between the two. For this reason, we said that the issue of ambassadors does not fall under this ruling, because the ambassadors remained in their original state of residence until they were transferred, meaning their stay was not limited. The default is that they remain until they are transferred. For this reason, in the words of Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) and the words of Shaykh al-Islam, they said, "unless he settles down or intends to reside." The intended meaning of residence is absolute residence that is not limited. So, if it is limited by time or limited by a job, there is no difference between the two.