{"_id":"682e4e2c9026ef9ba75a5f18","title":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"What should I do if my parents fear that my Islamic classes will make me \\\"extreme\\\"?\\n\"}]}","question":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"If non-practicing Muslim parents forbid their 16-year-old child from learning about topics like the Caliphate, Sharia, and Islamic political systems — fearing these topics are ‘extreme’ — is it permissible for the child to tell them they are attending general Islamic classes, while in reality also learning about these topics? The intention is not to lie, but to avoid conflict while fulfilling the Islamic duty of seeking knowledge. Would this be considered sinful or disobedient, given that the parents’ restriction is based on fear, not religious evidence?\\n\"}]}","answer":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"May Allah reward you and bless you for your sincerity in seeking Islamic knowledge at such a young age. Sacred knowledge is the key to success in this life and the next, and we ask Allah to grant you beneficial knowledge that purifies your heart and brings you closer to Him.\\n\\nThe topics you mentioned - the Caliphate (Khilāfah), the Sharīʿah, and the political dimensions of Islam - are not inherently extreme. They are legitimate parts of our history and religious heritage. Learning about them does not make one “radical.” What does matter is how these topics are studied: with balance, through reliable teachers, and within the framework of Ahl al-Sunnah wa-l-Jamāʿah.\\n\\nThat said, I’ll speak openly with you here. If I were to make an educated guess, it seems you may have encountered individuals connected with Hizb ut-Tahrir (HT), a group founded in 1953 by Taqī al-Dīn al-Nabhānī. If that is indeed the case, then my sincere and fatherly advice to you is this:\\n\\nStay away from this group. \"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"Do not attend their classes or gatherings. \"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"Do not read their publications.\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"\\nWhy?\\nTheir way of thinking is off-track, even if it sounds passionate or inspiring at first. It might feel like they’re calling for change, but in reality, they’re pulling people away from the real work the Ummah needs. Instead of helping us move forward, they often just make people angry or frustrated — without giving proper Islamic knowledge or real, productive solutions based on our tradition.\\n\\nWhat they teach isn’t just confusing, it can actually harm your understanding of Islam and affect your heart and thinking. If someone starts listening to these ideas before learning the basics of Islam - like proper beliefs, how we worship, and the good character the Prophet ﷺ taught - it can lead to confusion, pride, and pulling away from the scholars and traditions that have protected Islam for over 1,400 years.\\n\\nThis is not a judgment made from afar. I speak from direct, personal experience. I encountered their material around the same age as you. At the time, I admired their passion and boldness. But over time, I realized that it was a distraction. It consumed years of my life that could have been spent building a strong foundation in the basics of the religion and the knowledge that every Muslim needs to practice Islam properly. Their rhetoric may seem empowering, but it often leads to disillusionment, self-righteousness, and distance from traditional scholarship.\\n\\nYou don’t need slogans and slogans repackaged as revival. You need fard ʿayn knowledge, the core of what Allah will ask you about.\\n \\nYou may feel energized by their calls for revival and political action, but without the tools to filter what is valid and what is distorted, you risk building your understanding of Islam on political ideology rather than on prophetic guidance. You may think you're being “woken up,” but in reality, you're being put to sleep and lulled into a sense of purpose that lacks substance, disconnected from sacred knowledge, and blind to the deeper spiritual work required to truly serve this Ummah.\\n\"}]}","tags":[{"_id":"668da0010b76658b4c232b9d","tag":"Relationships: Parent and Child","count":111},{"_id":"668d9fe50b76658b4c232867","tag":"Aqeedah: Sects and Religions","count":68},{"_id":"668d9fed0b76658b4c232951","tag":"Knowledge: Other","count":48},{"_id":"668da0580b76658b4c2334b2","tag":"Knowledge: Aqeedah","count":38},{"_id":"668d9fe50b76658b4c232851","tag":"Contemporary Life: Knowledge","count":33},{"_id":"668d9fe50b76658b4c232854","tag":"Knowledge: Resources","count":32},{"_id":"668d9fe70b76658b4c23288e","tag":"Knowledge: Scholars","count":22}],"createdOn":"2025-05-21T22:05:33.014Z"}