I am currently studying for my Bachelor's degree in a non-Muslim country and I will get it, in sha Allah, in the middle of 2011. I have the opportunity to stay for one more year (until the middle of 2012) in order to get my Master’s too. I will tell you about the pros and cons of waiting for another year in order to get my Master’s.
Pros:
- Making my father happy (by getting my Master’s)
- The study will be virtually free of cost (whereas I do not know what my expenses would be in another country)
- Getting a better salary in any future job if I get a Master’s
- I will be able to stay with my father in this country, because it is likely that they will settle here so that my younger sister can get her degree too.
Cons:
- Living for another year in a non-Muslim country
- Not working and supporting my family for another year (despite the fact that I could work with a Bachelor’s degree).
Even if I stopped studying in this country after I get my Bachelor’s (in sha Allah), there is no guarantee that I will get a job in my field in a Muslim country (and getting a job in a Muslim country is the only way that could help me to move there and get a resident visa), because many jobs in Muslim countries require years of experience which I could never get if I only have a Bachelor's degree.
I would appreciate your advice very much based on what is more pleasing to Allah with regard to this matter. May Allah reward you with good.
Praise be to Allah.
It is
permissible to stay in kaafir countries based on certain conditions, the
most important of which are: that the person who stays there has enough
religious commitment to protect him from desires and has enough knowledge
and insight to protect him from doubts and specious arguments that he may
face, is able to practice his religion openly, and he and his family are
safe. For more details concerning that, please see the answer to questions
no. 13363 and
27211.
If these
conditions are fulfilled, there is nothing wrong with your staying there in
order to complete your Bachelor’s and then your Master’s.
In that case,
you should strengthen your connection with the Muslims in that land and
strive to go to one of the Islamic centres to offer prayers, attend lectures
and strengthen your faith, for the Shaytaan is closer to one who is on his
own, and he is further away from two.
If you can
take part with some of the members of the Islamic centre in calling people
to Allah and organising lectures and lessons, this is better.
We ask Allah
to guide you, help you and enable you to obey Him.
And Allah knows best.