Going on leisure holidays
Question:-
I would like to know the ruling regarding travelling for leisure, going on holiday, traveling the world etc.
Answer:-
The answer to your question can be found in the following narration of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam:
عَن عقبَة بن عَامر قَالَ: قلت يَا نَبِي الله مَا النجَاة قَالَ: أملك عَلَيْك لسَانك وليسعك بَيْتك وابك على خطيئتك (التِّرْمِذِيّ وَالْبَيْهَقِيّ)
Hadrat Uqbah Bin Aanir Radiallahu Anhu narrates, “I said O Nabi of Allah, what is the means of attaining salvation? He Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam replied, “Control your tongue, and your home should suffice you and cry upon your sins.”
It seems that this narration of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam is particularly for this day and age. Perhaps, there isn’t a place in the world free of evil and sin hence, by leaving one’s home and travelling the world without a genuine objective and purpose (such as propagating Deen or studying Deen, or Fardh Hajj etc.) there is a fear of one getting involved in so many acts of vice and evil whereas, if one remained within the confines of the home, then one would have been protected to some extent.
If people that are dedicated to the service of Deen complain of feeling spiritually dead after spending just a couple of hours at the beach with their families, can we then imagine the spiritual condition of one that travels for weeks from country to country purely with the intention of leisure and enjoyment. There is no need to elaborate with regard to the extent of Fitna at the airports, on aircrafts, resorts, shopping malls, weddings etc. Many females forget their Purdah, whilst the males are in Bermudas and T-shirts as they are perhaps too shy to be identified as Muslims. Many would partake of food at non-Muslim restaurants, presenting the argument that they are only eating fish and chips for example, whereas wine and other Haraam products are served at such outlets. Salaah is omitted whilst travelling and when touring places in tour groups. Unfortunately, we do not find any difference in our spiritual condition because we have been engulfed in darkness to the extent that the desire of carrying out good deeds no longer remains within us.
Hadrat Maulana Ilyaas Saheb Rahimahullah mentioned, “Whenever I have to go to Mewat, then I always go with the righteous and the people of Zikr. But then too, due to mixing with the people, the heart is changed to such an extent that, if I do not cleanse my heart by sitting in I’tikaaf for a few days, or I do not go and stay in the special gatherings of Raaipur and Sahaaranpur (referring to the gatherings of the pious), then the heart does not return to its original condition (of purity).
Hadrat Maulana would also tell others, “Those involved in the works of Deen and go around for Ghust etc. should cleanse the natural effects of such movements by Zikrullah.” [Re:- Malfoozaat of Maulana Ilyaas Khandelwi Rahimahullah Pg.65 – Malfooz no.311]
When they found a need to cleanse their hearts after spending time in the path of Allah, then what about visiting places of vice and sin, sitting with disbelievers and enemies of Allah in buses, taxis, planes; sleeping in the same hotels as them, eating in the same utensils used by them? This is besides the hundreds of thousands of Rands that will be wasted on these trips and the unnecessary items that will be purchased to impress others.
In conclusion, we advise abstention from leisure holidays due to the reasons discussed above. There are innumerable people that are in need of the basic necessities of life whom we should try to assist instead.
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date: 21 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1444 / 18 October 2022