Fatwa #4248729 April 2023Australia
Desiring to becoming an Alim - Please advise me
Question
Assalamualykum respected mufti Saheb, I am currently 17 years old living in Australia currently completing my last year of college before university. My mum always wanted me to become a doctor and just to make her happy I agreed. I in realty want to become an alim and imam in the future as my occupation. I told my mom that In’Sha’Allah I will become a doctor for her sake and then after that I will do alim course and become a Maulana In’Sha’Allah. I have explained this to my mom many times affectionately but she is against this. She does not mind that I do an alim course as long as I don’t quit being a doctor and become an imam. She is saying that what is the point that she pays such big university fees for my doctor education but then I end up becoming a Maulana. I told her that it is my right to do whatever profession is wish and that she can’t force me but she does not listen. She even threatens me sometimes saying that she will not allow me to go to the masjid to listen to Bayan or listen to Bayan online. The example of Maulana Tariq Jameel is evident. His parents wanted him to become a doctor and he wanted to become a scholar. His parents then kicked him out of the house and now he is such a big scholar that everyone knows his name and doctors sit in the masjid floors to listen to his Bayans. So if Maulana Tariq Jameel was wrong in disobeying his parents in becoming a doctor, why would Allah give this much honour to him. I don’t know what to do. On one side I want to obey my parents the best I can and on the other side I want to become a scholar and do the works of the Awliyah. Even though what I am arguing for isn’t wrong, I still feel bad when I have an argument about this with my mom because I feel like I am making her unhappy and ultimately, Allah unhappy. Please give me some advice and make dua that my Allah gives my mom Hadiyah to willingly allow me to pursue in my scholarly studies. Jazak’Allah
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
It is pleasing to note that you are a young person with great enthusiasm for Deen in you. We make Duaa that you get the good fortune of being awarded with the virtue stated in the following Hadith:
"سبعة يظلهم الله في ظله يوم لا ظل إلا ظله: إمام عادل، وشاب نشأ في عبادة الله تعالى، ورجل قلبه معلق بالمساجد…"
Translation: "(There are) Seven (categories of people) whom Allah will give protection with His Shade on the Day when there will be no shade except His Shade (i.e. on the Day of Qiyamah): A just ruler; a youth who grew up with the worship of Allah Ta’ala….” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6806)
We take note of your zeal to become an Alim and Imam. There are many people around the world that wish to become Ulama, but their circumstances do not allow them to become an Alim of Deen. It is not necessary for every person to become an Alim of Deen. However, it is necessary for one to become a pious and Allah conscious person.
In view of your personal circumstances, we advise you to inculcate in yourself the qualities of the Saliheen and Muttaqeen,
1) Be particular in performing your Salaah
2) Adhere to the Sunnah of Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) as far as possible
3) Abstain from sins, especially in the university environment
4) Show respect and be dutiful to your parents at all times
5) Link yourself with a spiritual guide. You can also see the following website for spiritual guidance: https://darulmahmood.net/
If circumstances allow you in the future to become an Alim, you may peruse your intention at that time.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
19-02-2020
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