Sheikh, My younger brother wants to send his 10 year old son to a boarding school for a good education and strict discipline. Since my brother has made his intention to do this known, his son has become angry, emotionally unstable and rebellious as he does not want to leave home. Also the whole family is against my brother, including our parents. Our father has warned him against this. Do the parents have the right to send their children forcibly to a boarding school, especially if the children become ruder and rebellious as a result?

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.

It is known that the father is generally compassionate with his son, and he is eager to achieve what is in his best interest and avoiding what might cause any harm to him.

Hence, if such schools are based on sound foundations that correspond to the Sharee’ah in education, and the organizers are trustworthy people in regard to the religion and morals of the son, and the father has a good purpose in sending his son to a boarding school, then it is permissible for the father to send his son to this school, and the fact that the son hates to leave home does not prevent the father from sending his son in Islam.

However, if the son could experience a real harm in his religion, his morals and his behavior because of the school environment, for example, or for any other reason, then it is not permissible for the father to do what could harm his son. Causing harm is forbidden in Islam. Ibn Abbaas narrated that the Prophet said: “There should be neither harm nor reciprocal harm.” [Ahmad and Abu Daawood]

Also, the father is held responsible for his son in front of Allaah, as in the Hadeeth reported by Ibn ‘Umar who said: I heard the Prophet saying: “Every one of you is a guardian and is responsible for the people under his guardianship: ….and a man is a guardian in his house and is responsible for the people under his guardianship.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

On the other hand, if this father was prevented by his father [i.e. the grandfather of the child] from sending his son to this boarding school, then he is even more forbidden in doing so as this is from goodness and it is an obligation to obey the father in what is permissible. For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 84942.

Allaah Knows best.