Assalamu alaikum. My parents and I got into an argument.. I'm an Indian girl born and brought up in Qatar. I'm currently in my 12th grade and it is time for me to make decisions regarding university applications. I thought that I could study here in qatar because some colleges are segregated here and I don't have to travel abroad without a guardian which is haram. My parents are opposed to this and refuse to let me go to college here. I had tried to explain to my father the ruling that it's not permissible for women to travel alone without a mahram but they said that I'm being delusional and extreme. He asked me why I'm following something totally different from what is usually practiced. And he gave examples of ustadhs and people that teach the Quran here and how they too send their daughters abroad. He also said that he has made his mind that he will send me abroad in order to "fix" me since I'm being so defiant. I just want to do what's right.My father is urging me to come up with a list of universities (abroad) within a day and I don't know what to do. I was told that traveling abroad should be ok as long as my father accompanies me in the journey and leaves me in the country and that he doesn’t have to stay with me but I'm sure that they wouldn't send a mahram with me other than the first time I travel to the new place. What should I do in this situation?

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

First of all, it should be noted that the status of the parents is great and being kind and dutiful to them is of great virtue. The children must as much as possible obey them in order to gain their pleasure as long as there is no harm on the child. By doing so, the child is gaining the pleasure of Allah as proven in the Hadeeth of the Prophet .

It is established among the jurists that obedience to parents is obligatory in that which is in their interest and is not harmful to the child. If you fear any harm in your religious or worldly matters by studying abroad, then you do not have to obey your parents in that. In this case, you can reach an understanding with your father and discuss with him in a gentle manner and seek the assistance of some members of the family and others whom he holds in high esteem, so that they will explain to him that adhering to the religion is a required matter and that this is not a reprehensible strictness, and that the Muslim is required to adhere to his religion and not to do what people do in their desires that are contrary to the Sharee’ah.

If you do not fear harm to yourself, and you are able to reside in that country in a place where you are safe for yourself, then there is nothing wrong with traveling with your Mahram to study there; the Mahram is only required in travelling but not in residing.

If it happens that there is no Mahram to travel with you, then some former and contemporary scholars have permitted the woman to travel with a safe company.

Ibn Jibreen said in his Fataawa:

“What is forbidden is for a woman to travel alone for a distance of a day and night. If the distance is less than that, whether she is travelling by airplane, train, or car, then it is not included in the prohibition. This is because what is forbidden is for a woman to ride a camel or the like of mounts and travel a long path in the desert for several days during which she may encounter bandits and immoral people (i.e. who may try to rape her), and to be gone for long. However, travelling in a car in the company of trustworthy women for five or ten hours on a road that is trodden by many travelers, and she is not alone with a non-Mahram (marriageable) man, and whenever she arrives at her destination where she works, she would stay in a suitable accommodation in the company of religiously committed women, then there is no religious violation in that because they are usually safe from corrupt people, and this is not considered prohibited travel...” [End of Quote]

In conclusion, we advise you to frequently supplicate Allah and ask Him grant you success in your affairs.

For more benefit on the ruling of studying in mixed universities, please refer to Fataawa 363820, 82730, 87310 and 128402.

For more benefit on studying in non-Muslim countries, please refer to Fatwa 82091.

Allah knows best.