The Ruling on Young People Traveling Abroad

Question:
Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you. And after that: Your Eminence, Shaykh Abdul Aziz ibn Baz (may Allah preserve him), one of the problems of this age is the travel of young people abroad. This problem has accompanied this age, and nothing is gained from it except bringing in dangerous contagious diseases—may Allah protect us from them. So what is your definition and guidance as advice to the young people who have made this travel their only concern, and who have disregarded the advice of their parents? Some of them may refuse marriage at this early age on the pretext that they want to secure their future, and others may not be able to marry due to the circumstances of their university studies? What is your opinion? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
My opinion on this has been published more than once in the local newspapers and submitted to the authorities. My opinion is to prohibit it: prohibiting travel abroad, and that it is not permissible for students or young people to travel abroad, neither for study nor for anything else. It is obligatory that they study here, and that they not be allowed to travel abroad; because of the much evil and great corruption in creed and morals that results from it. We have known this, and others have known it as well.
So my advice is that they not be allowed to travel to America, or to Europe, or to other countries where there is much evil, such as Thailand, Ceylon, India, and other such countries where there is complete freedom to do whatever corruption one wants, drinking intoxicants, committing unlawful sexual intercourse, and other such great corruption from which no one is safe except whom Allah protects and preserves (Glorified and Exalted is He).
I also advise hastening in marriage and not making excuses with reasons that have no basis. Rather, it is obligatory to hasten in marriage as much as a person is able.
I advise abandoning extravagance in bridal gifts and abandoning burdening oneself with wedding feasts. I urge economy in the wedding feast and in the bridal gift, and hastening in marriage even if one has not completed his studies, even if he has not prepared a house for him, and even if he has not secured his future as he claims. All these things have no basis. He can rent, and praise be to Allah, marry and complete his studies. Study does not prevent marriage. We married while we were studying, and nothing but good came of it. Others married while they were studying, and no one can count them except Allah, and nothing but good came of it. So marriage helps in good, it helps in lowering the gaze, it helps in guarding the private parts, and it helps in preserving time.
So study is not an excuse, and securing a house by buying or building has no basis and is not an excuse. There is no need for this. When it becomes easy, he can do it. He can be content with his current house, or his father’s house, or he can rent. All of this is made easy by the praise of Allah. So they are all excuses that have no basis, and they should never be relied upon.
And we ask Allah to guide the young people to know their interests, to secure what brings them happiness, and to be cautious of what harms them. And we ask Allah to guide the authorities to take hold of them and prevent them from harmful travels.
I have written more than once, including what was published recently: warning against traveling abroad and explaining its many harms. Among this is his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): This hadith in the Sahih indicates the prohibition of residing among the mushrikin (those who associate partners with Allah); because it is a means to evil, a means to adopting their religion, a means to being influenced by the doubts they spread among people, or broadcast in their broadcasts, or publish in their newspapers. It is a means to moral corruption, a means to associating with corrupt companions, a means to gathering with prostitutes, and other such things. It is a means to drinking intoxicants, to gambling, and to countless evils and corruptions.
From this is staying with a disbelieving family, staying among them and their members, under the claim that this is stronger for learning the language. This is a defective doubt by which they seek to destroy him. So when he is among them, he does whatever corruption he wants: unlawful sexual intercourse, lewd acts, and drinking intoxicants; because he is among them, in their house, in their home, among their daughters and sons, and he sees everything of the beauties of their women, the private parts of their women, and their drinking of intoxicants, and other such types of corruption.
So my advice, take it and convey it to those behind you: my advice is that it is never permissible to travel abroad, neither for study nor for anything else, except for a scholar who has known the religion of Allah, has gained insight, and is known for his uprightness, who goes for the call to Allah and to make people aware of the religion of Allah. This is fine, and he is allowed to do that. But to go for study while he is in the age of youth, this is never permissible. Rather, it is a means to great evil—may Allah help us.