My family and i live in a Western Country. I have sisters younger than me. My parents, in my opinion seem not to be so islamic. I feel like they aren't really living a Muslim lifestyle. I feel like that they have other priorities that they put first. Allahu Alaa'm. I really don't know if i'm being to judgemental. I mean they of course pray, fast, pay zakaa and do that stuff. I'm just really scared of many things. I mean, especially if you are living in a non-muslim society you have to be strict with living an islamic lifestyle following Allah's rules and commands as there is so much fitna. However, my parents seemed to give me a really hard time when i wanted to start wearing the hijab. They refused because of the society i live in and they believed that i should wear it when i get older. Another example would be when i ask to attend an islamic class or quran memorizing classes, i get this lecture from my parent that i have to care for my studies and try to get high grades and those classes i want to take can be taken in the summer. I want to point out something though. As a child, i lived in an Islamic country for a couple of years and later when i went to a foriegn country and i went to an Islamic school there for a while. However, still i faced many difficulties, and i fell into many troubles and i did some haram things. May Allah forgive me yarab and guide me. The issue now is my sisters. My sisters really weren't brought up like me in an Islamic country. They don't attend an Islamic school, i mean they will when they get older, but still i fear that it will be late. I don't know, i feel like my parents aren't strict with them in terms of religion. I mean they send them to learn quran and arabic 2 days in a week, but i feel its not enough. I feel as the years passed by my father got a bit westernized. I feel that my sisters are so westernized. what should i do to get close to them? How can i protect them? there is much fitnaa here its unbelievable.

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 is His slave and Messenger.

If your parents are as you mentioned that they perform the obligatory prayer, fast and pay the Zakah, then they are upon much good. It is confirmed that Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet said: ''Allaah says: “My Slave does not get closer to Me with anything more beloved to Me than something that I have enjoined upon him...” [Al-Bukhari]

However, if they are somewhat negligent (about their religious obligations), then there is barely anybody who is not negligent. Abu Hurayrah also narrated that the Prophet said: ''I swear by Him in Whose Hand my soul is, if you were not to commit sins, Allaah would have swept you out of existence and would have replaced you by other people who would commit sins, and then would ask forgiveness from Him, and He would forgive them.” [Muslim]

Of course, this is not a justification for committing sins; rather, this is encouraging repentance. Hence, if you notice that they are somewhat negligent, then the greatest act of kindness that you can do for them is to advise them in a soft and gentle manner, and endeavor to guide them. For more benefit on the etiquettes of advising the parents, please refer to Fatwa 88876.

Moreover, if a child treats his parents with respect and good morals, then this would make them accept his/her advice. So, you should endeavor to do this and not accustom yourself to blame them for being negligent.

As regards Hijab, if you mean covering the body except the face and hands, then this kind of Hijab is an obligation upon an adult Muslim woman according to the agreement of the Muslim scholars, and it is not permissible for a woman to be negligent about it under any circumstances, and there is no exceptions for anybody as there is no obedience to a creature in disobeying the Creator. It may be that this is what you mean by being strict, which means adherence to the principles and having resolute determination about them. This is not being strict; rather, this is sticking to one’s religion and performing acts of obedience to the Lord of the Worlds.

So, if your parents prevent you from wearing this Hijab, it is not permissible for you to obey them, but you should be soft with them and try to persuade them about it. You should avoid going out of home except when you are obliged to do so in order to avoid conflicts with your parents. It should be noted that it is better for a Muslim woman to stay in her home. Allaah says (what means): {And abide in your houses and do not display yourselves as [was] the display of the former times of ignorance. And establish prayer and give Zakah and obey Allaah and His Messenger. Allaah intends only to remove from you the impurity [of sin], O people of the [Prophet’s] household, and to purify you with [extensive] purification.} [Quran 33:33]

On the other hand, if your parents are keen that you excel in your studies, then you should strive to do so in order to make them happy. As regards Islamic lectures and learning matters of your religion, then you can achieve this through the internet. By doing so, you would combine between two benefits.

We believe that your parents would not prevent you from learning the matters of your religion but they just fear that this would affect your academic level at school. So, take it easy and try to maintain balance in your life.

Concerning your sisters, if your parents send them to learn Arabic and Quran two days a week, then there is much good in this. We advise you in particular to be good with them, soften their hearts and teach them what you have learnt about religious matters, and supplicate Allaah to enable them to do good and guide them to the straight path, as Allaah may rectify them thanks to your supplication.

In conclusion, it should be noted that residence in a non-Muslim country is one of the reasons of temptation, and it may be a cause of preventing a Muslim from much good, so if you can convince your parents to migrate to a Muslim country to reside there, then this is better. For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 86405.

Allaah Knows best.