Conflicts with college and Islamic study programs
23-2-2004 | IslamWeb
Question:
I am a 16 year-old Muslim girl. I really want to become a scholar in Islam, but I'm worried that I don’t have the time for it. I did actually come across a study program to become a scholar called the Arlemah course but its 5 days a weeks starting from 5-7pm. The problem is, on most days I finish college at 4:15 pm and it takes me at least 40 minutes to get home so I’d have to go straight from college to the course. Another problem is the simple fact that I will have college work and scholar work too. I am really confused and I'm thinking of dropping out of college. What shall I do? I have so much hope in myself and I have all the confidence in the world to do it but I just don't know what to do. There's nothing like spreading and teaching the word of Allah and that is my ultimate thrill. I know that becoming a scholar would benefit me when I die and go to my grave but studying business is only benefiting me in this world, not the Akheira. Please help me.
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.
First of all, we would like to thank you for your desire and aspiration to serve the religion of Allaah, to call to it, and to study His Sharee'ah.
You should know, dear sister, that if you can combine between studying in the college and attending that course, then this is good. But if you cannot do so, you should follow your studies in the college and then try to seek religious knowledge by studying significant religious books and asking the scholars, or attending other religious courses. If you can change your studies in the college into a religious specialty, then that is better.
If the main reason for leaving your studies in the college is to study religious studies on the hands of the scholars, then this is very good.
But if you want to leave your studies just to attend this course which is for a short period of time, then we do not advise you to do so, unless this course is for learning obligatory knowledge, like how to perform the prayer, or other individual obligations. Then in this case it is mandatory for you to attend this course even if this leads to leaving your studies if you cannot obtain such knowledge through other means.
Finally, you should know, dear sister, that Islam does not prohibit learning a worldly knowledge by which one can benefit the people. Rather, learning such knowledge could reach the status of a communal obligation, like medicine and other occupations which people cannot do without them.
Allaah Knows best.