The ruling on traveling to seek knowledge without the father's consent

Question:
Our brother says: I am a student of knowledge. I have finished high school. There is no branch of the university I live in in my village, so I am forced to travel to a city that is about six hundred kilometers from our village. My father does not agree to my traveling. So, if I travel to study and the father is not pleased, am I sinful or not?

Answer:
There is a distinction here. If the father needs you, it is obligatory for you to stay with your father and attend to his needs, for dutifulness to him is obligatory, and seeking more knowledge is recommended. You can increase your knowledge by listening to *Nur 'ala al-Darb*, listening to the lectures broadcast on the Quran Radio, and listening to knowledge from the lectures in your town and the Friday sermon in your town. However, if the father has someone to attend to his needs from among your brothers and does not need you, then there is no blame on you if you travel to complete your knowledge. It is obligatory for your father to help you in this and not to put you in a difficult position, because seeking knowledge is among the most important matters and among the best acts of drawing near to Allah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Obedience is only in what is right." It is not right to prevent you from seeking knowledge without right and without need. But if he needs you, dutifulness to him is more obligatory. We ask Allah for success for everyone. O Allah, amen. May Allah reward you with good.