Wants to be 'Aa'lima
5-12-2004 | IslamWeb
Question:
I sent an e-mail earlier on saying that I want to go to Daar Al-Uloom in Lancaster but I had forgotten to tell you that it is a boarding school Daar Al-Uloom where you stay over for 6 years, so basically I am going to become an alima, Inshaa Allaah, and I am going to learn a lot about Islaam and there are people who are telling me that I should go because it is good, I really want to go because I would rather concentrate on Deen than on Dunyah, what can I say to those people who are telling me not to go. I am extremely sorry for wasting your time an sending two separate questions about the same thing. I just remembered that you asked whether it is a hostel or not.
Answer:
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.
Indeed in Islam we are urged to seek knowledge and hold high the esteem of scholars. The Prophet 
said: "Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim." [Ibn Maajah] This includes males and females. So if the aforementioned school is teaching a correct methodology established according to the methodology of Ahlus-Sunnah and it is possible for you to observe the religious requirements like wearing the Hijab and the like, then there is no harm on you, Inshaa' Allaah, to enrol in this school. It should be noted that if you are married it is not permissible for you to join this school except with the permission of your husband in order to acquire this kind of communal obligation knowledge. We advise you not to take into consideration the views of the people who want to prevent you from seeking religious knowledge, and remind them of the saying of the Prophet : "Whoever treads a path seeking knowledge Allah will make his path to paradise easy (because of his seeking Knowledge)." [Muslim] Tell them that you are treading the path of the honourable female scholars of the companions and the mothers of the believers whom the male companions used to ask regarding many matters of their religion.
Finally we draw your attention to the following matters:
Firstly, if this school is so far from your residence that travel is required, then it is not permissible for you to travel to it except with a Mahram (a non-marriageable relative) as the Prophet said: "A woman should not travel except with her Mahram." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Secondly, residing at the school campus could involve some prohibitions, therefore it is not permissible for you to reside there unless you feel safe and secure in all matters.
Allaah knows best.