Question Summary:
I want to Become an ‘Alim

Question Detail:

Dear Mufti Sb/Mufti's Student
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
My name is .... and I am 16 years old. I live in the United States of America. When I completed 7th grade in public school, I asked my parents to put me in full-time hifz program and they agreed. I started hifz at 13 and finished at 15 الحمد لله. During that time and until now I was doing homeschooling. Now I will be going into 11th grade starting this September. I want to become an Alim and do Iftaa after. My parents are saying no, I have to complete 11th and 12th grade in public school then go to college and get a degree. They are saying after I get a degree, then maybe I can join Alim Course. What I want to do is start Alim Course now and get a GED (High School Diploma) concurrently. Then finish Alim Course around 22 or 23 and finish Iftaa by 24 or 25. After that, I can get a degree if it is necessary. If I go to public school and college right now I will most likely get a degree at 22, and after Alim and Iftaa I will be over 30! Also if I go the school route, I might not be as enthusiastic about joining Alim Course then. I know having a degree might help in terms of having knowledge, but as an Alim or a Mufti I think you can teach Islam and be an Imam without a degree as many scholars are Alims and Muftis and have no secular degree. Where I live, many of the scholars here completed hifz and then went to Darul Uloom Zakariyya in SA whilst having a GED. Please tell me how I can persuade my parents. Today is the 14th of August, 2018, I only have less than month until public school opens. Coincidentally, Alim classes in New York start the same day public school opens. What I want to do is start next month (September) and complete I'daadiyah and 5 years of Alim Course in New York and then do Dora e Hadith and Iftaa in South Africa ان شاء الله. Please advise me what to do, as I really want to become Islamic scholar and please make dua my parents let me join Alim Course now in September. 
Jazakallahu Khairan 

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

The thought to become a ‘Alim and Mufti is a blessing from Allah. We make du‘a that Allah make you a ‘Alim of Deen and a Mufti to serve Islam and Muslims.

You may request the ‘Ulama of your area to intercede to your parents on your behalf to allow you to commence your ‘Alim course now.

And Allah Ta‘ālā Knows Best.

Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.