The ruling on residing in the lands of disbelievers to learn knowledge that is neither obligatory nor a fard for the learner.

The Shaykh : From here, we must remind you—and this is more important than the previous matter—that we do not see it permissible for the Muslim youth to travel from the lands of Islam to the lands of disbelief, immorality, open sinfulness, and indecency in order to learn knowledge that, at the very least, is not a fard or obligatory upon him. He goes there and is influenced by the environment in which he lives, by the customs, traditions, and morals, and is influenced by what he sees of tabarruj (a woman's display of her adornment), open sinfulness, and immorality. We do not see it right for these young men to go to those lands to obtain what may be permissible, only to return having lost something of their religion or a portion of their upbringing and morals. Therefore, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: , and in another hadith: : meaning: mix with , and in a third hadith: , and the fire of each of them is far from the fire of the other, which is an allusion: save yourself, keep your distance from the disbeliever and the open sinner, because nature is a thief.