I am a Muslim student studying in Armenia where there are no Mosques. This means that I do not perform the obligatory prayers in congregation. I would like to know the Sharee‘ah ruling on staying in this country for the sake of studying, knowing that I could move to one of the Islamic countries of the former Soviet Union but I would then have to study for one extra year.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

Accordingly, we advise you to leave and go to a Muslim country to complete your studies there, even if it means you have to study for an extra year. In this regard, we remind you of the verses in which Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And whoever fears Allaah - He will make for him a way out, And will provide for him from where he does not expect.} [Quran 65: 2-3] 

Allaah Knows best.