The Ruling on Living with Families Abroad

Question :

A questioner is asking about the ruling on living with families for those who travel abroad for study, in order to improve their language skills?

Answer:

It is not permissible to live with families, due to the Fitnah (trial, temptation) involved in being exposed to the behavior of the disbelievers and their women. The accommodation of the student must be far removed from possible causes of Fitnah. All of this is based upon the view that travelling abroad for the purpose of study is permissible. The correct view is that it is not permissible to travel to the lands of the disbelievers to study, except due to extreme necessity, and even then, on condition that he is knowledgeable (in his religion) and is unlikely to be seduced by Fitnah. The Prophet said:
"Allah will not accept any deed from a polytheist after he embraces Islam, until he abandons the polytheists.

This was narrated by An-Nasa'i with a good chain of narrators, and Abu Dawud, At-Tirmithi and An-Nasa'i reported, with an authentic chain, on the authority of Jarir bin 'Abdullah Al- Bajali, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet said:
"I am innocent of every Muslim who resides among the polytheists".

And the Verses and Hadiths in this regard are numerous. It is therefore incumbent upon the Muslims to beware of travelling to the lands of the people of Shirk, except for necessity, unless the traveler is knowledgeable and intends to invite them to Allah and to direct them to Him (i.e. His religion). In this case, it is an exception. In this is great good, because he is calling the polytheists to the Oneness of Allah and teaching them His Law, therefore he is a Muhsin and far from danger, due to his knowledge and understanding. And it is Allah, Alone, Whose help can be sought.

Source:
Ibn Baz
Fatawa Islamiyah, Vol. 1 Pages 249-250