The Ruling on Traveling to Study in Lands of Disbelief

Question:
This young man says: I am a student who has finished high school, and the government has approved sending me to France to study civil engineering under the government's supervision. So what do you advise me to do?

Answer:
There is no doubt that the default ruling on traveling to lands of disbelief is prohibition, unless there is a valid purpose for the travel, such as learning a skill that the community needs, like engineering or medicine, or other matters the community requires. This is permissible, but with adherence to your religion, preserving your religion, and staying away from trials and from associating with the wicked.
And the travel should be only to the extent of the need. So if this is for a valid need that you require and the community requires, and you preserve your religion and stay away from trials, and the travel is only to the extent of the need, then there is no harm in it. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh,