Wants to seek religious knowledge but his mother wants him to be a doctor
30-9-2007 | IslamWeb
Question:
Assalamualaikum brothers im sorry to bother you again but im stuck in a serious position. im in my junior year of high school and i dont have an interest in a career. However i recently discovered i have a strong interest in islam(i like to learn islamic knowledge and apply it to my life if applicable ). So i want to go into islamic studies to learn the knowledge and apply it to myself as well as spreading it to misguided or uneducated people(as i have seen many Musliims like that in school) and most importantly gaining Allah subhana watallah's love and reward. Yet, my mother wants me to become a doctor and i dont want to disobey. on one side i can get closer to Allah if i do islamic studies but i will feel guilty about my mom. on the other hand i will please my mom, but lose a great opportunity to earn Allah subhana watallah's pleasure and i'll be stuck with something i wont enjoy. Can you please give me the best advice as to which path i should take as i would like to get a head start...Jak'Allah and may Allah reward you all for your efforts.
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.
There is no doubt that acquiring religious knowledge is one of the greatest acts of worship by which one gets closer to Allaah. It is for this reason that a Muslim, who is jealous about his religion and wants to spread the Religion of Allaah among the people, should be keen to seek such religious knowledge. On the other hand, achieving the wish of the mother and pleasing her, in what is permissible, is one of best acts because the mother has a great status.
We think that it is possible to achieve both benefits, especially at the present time whereby the means of education are widespread, like the internet and other means. Therefore, we advise you to spend your free time and holidays in memorizing the Quran, learning religious knowledge and spreading it among the Muslims, and at the same time, you may achieve your mother's wish in studying medicine.
How good it is for a Muslim to be a doctor and at the same time a person who calls people to Allaah. Indeed, such a profession may help him in presenting Islam to other people in a perfect manner.