Asalamu Alaikum. I have a huge problem. My parents (mostly my mother) will not allow me to leave school and pray the Friday Prayer. Every time I give my mother an ayah or hadith she says that I'm misinterpreting it. When I show her the interpretation of a scholar, she says he's Iranian or some other nationality and does not know Arabic as well. The Imams of my community can't convince her and my school needs the permission of my parents. Please help me!! I have not asked my school because they know I have my First Amendment right in the U.S. Constitution. My mother does not respond to scholars or Imams. She says that Allah (SWT) would prefer a Muslim who builds his future through his education and to spread Islam. When I told her that that can't happen when a seal is put over that person's heart, she said to close the discussion. I start school August 14, 2006. Please help me! I'll even buy you a plane ticket to come and speak to my mother about this. I want to pray Friday Prayer. I've worked so hard to get to my point over this summer and I do not want to lose it. Help me, please!!! Asalamu Alaikum P.S. Please answer ASAP.

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. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

You should know, dear brother, that it is not permissible for an adult sane Muslim male to fail to perform the Friday prayer without a sound reason, like sickness or travel. Studies are not a sound religious reason for abandoning the Friday prayer as clarified in Fatwa 85495, and it is not permissible to obey the parents in this regard. We have already clarified the sin and the threat of abandoning the Friday prayer in Fataawa 88869 and 91358, and we clarified in Fatwa 84942 that there is no obedience to a creature in disobeying the Creator; so please refer to the above Fataawa.

Therefore, we advise you to endeavour to convince your mother or father with the importance of attending the Friday prayer and the danger and threat of abandoning it. Additionally, you may show them the above-referred Fataawa. Moreover, you may seek the help of the pious and righteous people who know your parents and who may influence them.

Then, if your mother insists on her view, take your matter to the administration of the school and seize the advantage of the article of the law which states the freedom of belief in order to force them to allow you to go out to perform the Friday prayer. If this is not possible, then try to move to another school which does not necessitate the permission of the parents for going out of the school, and you should earnestly supplicate Allaah, as Allaah Says (what means): {And your Lord says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you.}[Quran 40:60].

Your mother should fear Allaah and she should know that she will stand before Him, and it is only then that she will realize the evil fate of favoring studies over the Friday prayer. Moreover, she should know that she will be questioned by Allaah about the cultivation of her children, and she is required to protect her children from Hellfire. Allaah Says (what means): {O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones.}[Quran 66:6].

Ordering her children to abandon the Friday prayer is exposing them to the punishment in the Hereafter, so she should fear Allaah. On the contrary, she should be thankful and grateful to Allaah Who blessed her with a son who is keen on performing the prayer, despite living in a society that is overwhelmed by disbelief and dissoluteness. She should be the best helper for him in obeying Allaah and not an obstacle for him in doing so.

Allaah Knows best.