Q: May Allah reward you! It has recently been noticed that many youth travel to nonMuslim countries either for study or other reasons. Some of them are new converts to Islam. Do you think that they need an administration or special authority to follow up, direct them, and take care of their affairs? This administration may be supervised by the General Presidency of the Administrations of Scientific Research, Ifta', Da'wah and Guidance or by the Islamic League.
A: No doubt that students' traveling is very risky, whether they are the children of Muslims or new converts to Islam. We must pay more attention to this great danger and be aware of its adverse consequences. We have written many times warning against traveling abroad and explained its dangers. If there is some necessity, travelers must be sufficiently mature, understand Islam well, and have a chaperone to monitor their behavior so they will not be mislead. We must beware of this and follow their progress until they attain their goal because the risk is high.
When high school or college students travel abroad, the risk is high at this age. We must provide specializations in our country's educational system rather than having to travel abroad. If travel is necessary, students must be selected based upon their good character, knowledge, and sound mind.
However, there must be a supervisor to follow up on them and monitor their actions until they return. They may travel provided that the specialization is of great need and there is no equivalent specialty within our country.