Is it obligatory for me to obey my father if he prevents me from seeking knowledge?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh: A man, whenever he intends to seek knowledge, his father says, "No, don't go, stay with me," or "Stay here." He does not encourage him to seek knowledge.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : If he wants to go to visit one of the scholars or to seek knowledge, his father says, "I will review a transaction with the government offices in Riyadh, or something like that." Matters become easier for him if you go for worldly affairs or something that does not cause embarrassment. He cannot say, "I am going for da'wah or to seek knowledge..." So, what is the ruling in this case?
The Shaykh : May Allah bless you. The father is worldly-minded, did you understand? According to what you said, if you ask his permission for worldly work, he immediately gives permission. For the hereafter, he says no or hesitates. First: I advise this father to say to him, "Fear Allah, do not prevent your son from seeking religious knowledge or from a matter that is beneficial for him religiously, for you would be among those who forbid what is right, like the hypocrites."
And we say to the son: You may disobey your father and go to seek knowledge and visit him occasionally, except if there is a dire necessity that requires you to stay with him, in which case dutifulness to parents takes precedence, did you understand? For example, if he is sick and no one is there to care for him, this is a dire necessity, so you stay. However, the continuation of a state is impossible; this necessity must end, yes.
The questioner : Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Behind, behind, what? Yes, yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : If he wants to go to visit one of the scholars or to seek knowledge, his father says, "I will review a transaction with the government offices in Riyadh, or something like that." Matters become easier for him if you go for worldly affairs or something that does not cause embarrassment. He cannot say, "I am going for da'wah or to seek knowledge..." So, what is the ruling in this case?
The Shaykh : May Allah bless you. The father is worldly-minded, did you understand? According to what you said, if you ask his permission for worldly work, he immediately gives permission. For the hereafter, he says no or hesitates. First: I advise this father to say to him, "Fear Allah, do not prevent your son from seeking religious knowledge or from a matter that is beneficial for him religiously, for you would be among those who forbid what is right, like the hypocrites."
And we say to the son: You may disobey your father and go to seek knowledge and visit him occasionally, except if there is a dire necessity that requires you to stay with him, in which case dutifulness to parents takes precedence, did you understand? For example, if he is sick and no one is there to care for him, this is a dire necessity, so you stay. However, the continuation of a state is impossible; this necessity must end, yes.
The questioner : Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Behind, behind, what? Yes, yes.