Dear Sir/Madam, I have found a place on a course at a university which is away from my city; this means that I would have to leave my mother and family. The course offers me the chance to switch after one year into a medical school which is what I want to study; and it is really difficult to get into medical schools here in the UK. However this is not really guaranteed even if you get high marks they still may not allow me to switch its up to them basically. My mother has a chronic condition and I have been helping her for years now. Over the past year she has really improved and she is in a better heath state now but still she is not 100% far from it actually. If I leave she would still have two of my brothers and one sister to help her; but I don’t think they would be able to help and please her fully because they are not very responsible. I am really tempted to go for this chance as it may be my last chance to get into medical school and fulfil my ambition. However it does not feel right to leave my mum behind (I would still be able to come every weekends and visit her) but I do not know if it’s right to leave her now. She has supported us though out her life and still continues to support us. But at the same time if I don’t go for this course and stay in my city with my mother; she will feel like she has held me back from achieving what I want. It’s a real dilemma. Please help me Jazzak allah khair

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 mother needs to be cared for and she might be harmed if this care is not provided for her, then it is an obligation to provide her with this care. This obligation does not fall on one particular child, but on all the children. Therefore, you are obliged to care for your mother in the same way all your brothers and sisters are obliged to do so. However, if your brothers and sisters do not take care of your mother in a way to assure that she would not be harmed, then it is an obligation on you to stay with her.

Nonetheless, if you are able to provide her with a trustworthy maid who is able to fulfil her needs as required, then you are not obliged to stay with her. In case it is not possible to provide her with a maid, then you are obliged to stay with your mother and be kind to her, and Allaah may recompense you with something better than studies.

If we presume that there is no hindrance for you to go to study, and if going requires travelling then you are not permitted to travel except with a Mahram (i.e. a person whom one is permanently prohibited from marrying due to suckling, marital, or blood relations); for more benefit please refer to Fatwa 83795.