Who should you listen to from your parents if they contradict each other? For example if your father first ordered you to not be an engineer but to be a doctor, and then your mother order you to not be a doctor but to be an engineer. Should you listen to the father since he ordered you first? Or should you listen to the mother because she has a higher status?
Jazakum Allah khayran
You should find a way to please both of them, e.g. in your case consider having a conversation with them and explain your situation.
In general, if obedience to both is mutually exclusive, then the mother has precedence over the father, provided obviously that obeying her will not involve disobedience to Allah. This is the view of the majority.
أما إن تعارض برهما في غير معصية , وحيث لا يمكن إيصال البر إليهما دفعة واحدة , فقد قال الجمهور : طاعة الأم مقدمة ; لأنها تفضل الأب في البر
But if there is a conflict in obeying the parents in other than sin, such that both can not be obeyed simultaneously, then the majority say: obedience to the mother takes precedence; because the mother has preference over the father in good treatment
That the mother's right is greater is apparent in the the verse of the Quran that has placed separate emphasizes on good treatment of her on account of her sacrifices:
ووصينا الإنسان بوالديه حملته أمه وهنا على وهن وفصاله في عامين أن اشكر لي ولوالديك إلي المصير
And We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination.
Hadith also evidence the greater right of the mother:
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال جاء رجل إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال يا رسول الله من أحق الناس بحسن صحابتي قال أمك قال ثم من قال ثم أمك قال ثم من قال ثم أمك قال ثم من قال ثم أبوك
Narrated Abu Huraira:
A man came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Who is more entitled to be treated with the best companionship by me?"
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Your mother."
The man said. "Who is next?"
The Prophet said, "Your mother."
The man further said, "Who is next?"
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Your mother."
The man asked for the fourth time, "Who is next?"
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Your father. "
إن الله يوصيكم بأمهاتكم، ثم يوصيكم بأمهاتكم، ثم يوصيكم بأمهاتكم، ثم يوصيكم بآبائكم، ثم يوصيكم بالأقرب فالأقرب
Allah enjoins you to be dutiful to your mothers. Then He enjoins you to be dutiful to your mothers. Then He enjoins you to be dutiful to your fathers. Then He enjoins you to be dutiful to your next closest relative and then to your next closest relative.
You can obey none of them in this situation because what the verses that came to talk about how we should treat our parents don't indicate obeying them in everything such as in one's personal matters and decisions, like choosing your study major but indicate the Ihsan which means having deep faith for them and showing it in both deed and action such as respecting them, being kind to them, and having sympathy for them...etc
In Surah Al-Isra (17) - Verse 23:
In Arabic (the original text):
وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا
Its translation:
And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment.
The verse states in other words that worshipping is only related to Allah. As for one's parents, it is good treatment.
enjoying good treatment, as you have concluded, but treating them in a good manner and obeying them; however, the latter doesn't fit your specific case since it is a personal decision that deserves to be decided upon by you.
– Learning Equals Success
Jun 16 '19 at 13:51
Who should you obey if your parents disagree with each other? If the parents consider only their own interest or personal interest in ordering and forbidding the child, then it is permissible to oppose them; Of course, it should be noted that this opposition and disobedience should not be in such a way that it is considered against the duty of associating with the famous and treating them well, also if the parents forbid the practice of the famous and deny the matter due to bad traits and morally reprehensible traits and moral vices. Their obedience is not obligatory. (1)
Obtaining parental consent and obedience to parents is not obligatory everywhere. Of course, it is very good and pleasant, and it is better for a person to study their satisfaction in all things. But harassment of parents is forbidden. And where disobedience to parents causes annoyance to parents, their obedience becomes necessary and obligatory. Unless their obedience causes an obligatory omission or a forbidden act. (2)
Among the rights of parents, the right of the mother is higher, and it is one of the elegances of our religion that puts the right of the mother before the right of the father. The elders of our religion have always placed more emphasis on the rights and respect of the mother than the father; According to Ayatollah Dastgheib, the mother has more rights than the father, and one of the reasons is that the mother gets upset sooner. (3)
(1)Ref:http://www.rajanews.com/news/302103/%
(2): Ayatollah Makarem, Istifta'at, vol. 1, p. 1604; Ayatollah Behjat, Istifta'at, vol. 4, pp. 5041, 5038 and 5033, Ayatollah Tabrizi Istiftaat, p. Imam Khomeini Explaining Miscellaneous Issues Q 85 (according to Ayatollah Khamenei); Telephone questions from the office of Ayatollah Sistani, Ayatollah Safi, Ayatollah Shobiri Zanjani and Ayatollah Vahid Khorasani.
