Going On Vacations
QUESTION:
As the holiday season is approaching, what is the Islamic perspective regarding holidays and recreation? It has become quite common for families and children to travel during this period for leisure, without any intention of engaging in or observing anything impermissible. In this context, are such outings permissible from an Islamic standpoint, or are they discouraged due to the potential exposure to non-Islamic environments or activities? Furthermore, considering the high costs associated with such travel, would such expenditure be regarded as Israaf?
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 Aamir Radiallahu Anhu narrates, “I said, ‘Oh Nabi of Allah, what is the means of attaining salvation?’ He Sallallahu 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 who 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 Fitnah 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 who go around for Ghusht 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 Ta’ala, then what about visiting places of vice and sin, sitting with disbelievers and enemies of Allah Ta’ala 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.
In conclusion, we advise abstention from leisurely holidays due to the reasons discussed above. Currently, there are innumerable people/places such as Gaza, Syria, etc. which need the basic necessities of life whom we should try to assist instead.
[Extracted from Darul Ifta Archives]
ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Abdul Kader Fazlani
Date: 04 Jumaadal-Ulaa 1447 / 26 October 2025
CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:
Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb