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Tourism
Shaykh Abdur Rahman As-Sudays [(Rabee 'uth Thaanee 10, 1423 (June
21, 2002)]
All praise is due to Allaah,
Lord of the worlds. May peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of
Allaah, his household and companions.
Fellow Muslims! There is an
important and critical phenomenon that deserves to be studied and given
attention. It is the summer holiday that takes place every year and its
accompanying hot weather that makes many people travel to summer resorts,
beaches and tourist centres. These days, many people embark on long
journeys to different parts of the world to spend their vacation. They
vary in their purposes of traveling as they differ in their thoughts and
ideologies. Statistics show the great number by which people go out.
Some of these holidaying
people forget, in the course of their holiday, their faith, values and
morals. These set of people throw piety and modesty away before they
embark on their journey. But one thing that all these travelers share in
common is that they all travel to satiate their passions.
In view of this situation,
let us deal with this issue according to the Islaamic criterion and know
what the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of the Prophet says on it, and
compare that with the situation of people. Let us also discuss the
negative effect of the absence of Islaamic regulation on this matter and
give ourselves some admonitions that every traveler must take note of.
Brethren in faith! Islaam
does not block its adherents from taking a rest and amusing themselves and
their families and to make use of the lawful means in that. It only
emphasizes that, recreation and amusement should be within the context of
law and that all that could weaken the faith, diminish the virtue and
cause immorality should be avoided.
Fellow Muslims! There is
nothing wrong in traveling according to Islaam. It can even be required
for lawful reasons. Ath-Tha'alabee said, "Among the virtues of travel is
that the traveler sees wonders of cities and countries as well as the
beauties of their heritage. This increases him in knowledge of the Power
of Allaah and makes him grateful of his blessings". A wise man says,
I see
that, the stagnance of water spoils it,
But if it
flows it becomes sweet and if not, it will not be good.
If a lion
has not gone out of the jungle, it won't be able to hunt,
And if an
arrow is not shot out of the bow it will not reach its target,
If the
sun had perpetually stayed in the orbit,
All men
would have become bored of it.
As far as Islaam is
concerned, traveling has rules and regulations among which are: it should
be to the practicing Islaamic countries. As for traveling to morally
filthy and doubtful places, it is forbidden to travel there if there is no
necessity for that with a condition that one should be able to practice
his religious rites especially prayer.
The scholars have mentioned
three conditions for traveling to the lands of non-Muslims. First: That
the traveler should be very strong in his religion as to avoid the lusts.
Two: That he should possess knowledge by which he can avoid ambiguities.
Three: That he must travel for lawful necessity like, medical treatment
and the like.
You travelers! Would you ask
yourselves: Where are you traveling to and why are you traveling? Is your
traveling in order to obey Allaah or commit sins? If it is to obey Allaah,
praise is due to Him and he will shadow you with His care but if it is to
disobey Him, you should fear Allaah and be ashamed before Him for the sake
of seeking the pleasure of your Lord. If you have intended to commit sins
in your traveling, it is not too late to change your intention and turn
back to Allaah in repentance. Allaah says,
"O you who believe! Turn
to Allaah with sincere repentance"
(At-Tahreem 66:8)
Dear traveling brother! The
conscious Muslim is the one who learns from other people's experiences.
There were many who have traveled in search of sins and ended up with loss
and returned with incurable diseases as a result of their evil deeds.
Dear traveling brother!
Adhere to manners of traveling. Do Istikhaarah (seeking Divide
Guidance) and seek advice. Do not forget the supplication of traveling and
choose a good company. Take care of your safety and do not exceed the
speed limits. Give road its right and make your journey a source of
learning the lessons of life. Reflect over the Kingdom of Allaah and the
greatness of His creation.
Such is
the nature, wait a while, O you traveler
That I
may show you the wonderfulness of the creation of the Creator
The earth
around you and the heaven shaken for the marvelous signs.
Dear travelers! Since
traveling has been said to be a kind of tribulation, Allaah has given some
permissions for it to make things easy for the traveler and as a sign of
His compassion for him. Take to these permissions, for Allaah loves that
His permissions are taken to as His obligations also are taken to. The
Prophet's guidance in journey is to shorten the four rakaahs
prayers to two, to observe only the obligatory prayers except the witr
and Sunnatul-Fajr, for he never left them out either during
traveling or when he was at home. The traveler is also allowed to wipe
over his socks for three days and nights. The woman is not allowed to
travel alone except with a mahram.
Dear traveling brother!
Abstain from all things that Allaah and His messenger has forbidden. Avoid
shirk. Do not fear anything but Allaah and do not place your hope
in anything but Allaah. Do not travel to graves and do not call upon any
but Allaah alone. Avoid showing-off, usury and fornication for they are
great sins. Avoid alcohol and hard drugs for they destroy one's religion
in addition to their being filthy acts of Satan. Do not deal in Haraam.
The Messenger of Allaah mentioned a man who was dusty and with unkempt
hair who raised his hands in prayer saying, "O my Lord! O my Lord!" while
his sources of food, drink and clothing were haraam and was also
nurtured with haraam. How could his supplication be answered?
Do not travel with those
whose hearts are full of lusts and are devoid of God-consciousness.
"Allaah wishes to accept your repentance, but those who
follow their lusts wish that you should deviate tremendously away (from
the Right Path)."
(An-Nisaa 4:27)
Brethren in faith! There are
some people who love for themselves and their family to travel to the
morally corrupt countries in order to satiate their sinful lusts like
fornication and gambling, far from the sights of righteous people. So
avoid such places. Even some of these people go to the extent that the
women among them remove their garments of modesty before they leave their
country.
As for you who is hiding
your intention from people and have desire to travel to where no one can
see you, do you not fear the overpowering seizure of Allaah? Do not ever
think that Allaah is unaware of you even for a moment and never think that
anything that you do is hidden from Him.
Fellow Muslims! A Muslim
traveling to non-Muslim land for a binding purpose that Shareeah
allows is clearly harmful to his religion, morality and values. For that
exposes him to sins, immoralities, neglecting obligations and gambling
with life. This is in addition to the risks of those who steal money and
pollute people's hearts.
Let these travelers remember
the sufferings of our innocent Muslims in Palestine, Kashmir, Chechnya,
Kosovo and other places. Where is the brotherly feeling? Some Muslims are
concerned with the conditions and pains of their brethren while yet others
think on how to spend their vacations at some resorts?!
Some people find excuse for
their traveling with a claim that it is for summer tourism. Our righteous
predecessors very much used to travel to east and west, north and south of
the earth, but only for Jihaad, calling people to Islaam through
their words, deeds, conducts and their good relationship with people. If
this is the purpose of tourism, it is welcome. We all agree to tourism in
its pure, Islaamic meaning with all its pleasant etiquettes. It is however
saddening that there are some defeatists among the Muslims who claim,
wrongly, that traveling and tourism can be without spending days and
nights in sins and abandoning modesty. Entering in these waters and
running after the diseases of the corrupted nations are things that cannot
be acceptable to believing people and societies.
Yes, tourism has its
impacts. It is undoubtful that the enemies of Islaam do aim at Muslim
tourists to attack them in matters of their faith and morals through
psychological, war and moral corruption. They also manipulate many of them
economically and morally and draw them little by little to promiscuity,
alcohol and drugs. Some Muslims have even returned to their countries
condemning their religion and values. Do these people not reflect on the
statistics of AIDS disease and the victims of drug addiction?
We therefore appeal to
traveling Muslims to always fear Allaah before they take their steps and
when they take them. Let them travel for the purpose of good,
righteousness and propagation of their religion. Let them be good
ambassadors for their countries and Islaam. Do not let the world think
that the Muslim youths are slaves of desires. Show them through your
behavior that you are carriers of a noble message, and people of unique
personality; that you are adherents of a religion that protects all good
values, regulates the life by truth, peace and justice and looks towards
all that could guarantee progress, development and civilization for the
whole world.
"And be afraid of a Day
when you shall be brought back to Allaah. Then every person shall be paid
what he earned, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly."
(Al-Baqarah 2:281)
Brethren in faith! It is part of being grateful to
Allaah to speak about His immense favor upon this blessed land. The
greatest of his blessings is the two Sacred Mosques which the hearts of
all Muslims yearns to visit.
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