In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Some people think Muslims are so tied up by the "chains" of Shari'ah (Islamic Law) that they are all pray and dhikr and have no fun. The fact is that Islam does not disallow “fun.” The religion has permitted rest and relaxation within defined healthy limits.
As a matter of fact, when a companion of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) by the name of Handhalah Ibn ‘Aamir (may Allah be pleased with him), came to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) complaining that the strength and level of his imaan (faith) decreased when he returned home and played with his wife and children (as opposed to the time when he was with the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace)). The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) replied to this by saying: “A time for this and a time for that” (Bukhari & Muslim). This means an hour for worship increases ones imaan, and an hour for living one’s life within the limits and boundaries of Islam also increases a person’s faith.
Ibn ‘Abdul-Barr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that ‘Ali ibn Abu Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Relax your hearts and find some means of entertainment for them, because they become apathetic just as bodies get tired."
However, fear Allah regarding your vacations and take a serious stance towards finding the proper way of utilizing and preserving your time, for the Muslim time is his life itself. It’s a valuable commodity which is on lease from Allah.
In order to realize the importance of time, we must know that everybody will have to answer five questions, which were mentioned in this hadith:
Abu Barzah narrated that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:
No person’s feet will be able to move on the Day of Resurrection until he is asked about five things: how he spent his life; how he utilized his youth; how he earned his wealth and how he spent it; and what he did with his knowledge.[Tirmidhi]
Time is our capital and our life is a transaction. Time will outstrip us because our life in this world is temporary and each moment that passes by is a moment closer to the end of our life in this world. It was reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, "When a person wakes up in the morning, he invests his soul or life in a business enterprise: some of the investors free or save the capital from loss and others destroy it."
Traveling should not be for mere amusement and pleasure seeking. It should be for deriving benefits and for acquiring knowledge. It should not be for passing away time or for sport but for research and fact finding and discovery, and for learning a lesson from histories of the dead and the living. Although, the many claims that pleasure trips are for discovery and learning about other countries and their benefits are not true. Those who travel do not use their trips to learn and ponder; rather they use them to relax and enjoy looking at different scenes. There is no benefit in these journeys at all, rather they are a waste of precious time, a waste of money and the harm to one's religious commitment is great.
Imam Al-Ghazali mentioned some types of vacationing by saying: “Continuous vacationing and entertainment destroy the heart. Some people wish for nothing except to boast and have a fine reputation, which leads them to resemble the people of great disobedience in the way they talk, their habits, the way they perform some acts of worship and their manners. They think highly of themselves and think they are doing well. How foolish is the one who cannot differentiate between being healthy and a having a wound which is swollen; such people are despised by Allah, because Allah hates non utilized youth, and the only thing which led such people to this type of vacationing is non utilized youth.
Ibn Al-Jawzi said: “If traveling through the land is not for the purpose of seeking knowledge or propagating Islam, then it is prohibited.”
Imam Ahmad said: “Traveling (for entertainment) is not recommended in Islam nor was it the practice of the Prophets and the righteous, because it distracts the heart” and when he was asked once about amusement, he, replied: “No, rather, amusement is attained by frequently going to the mosque.”
Traveling to a country where evil and haraam things are widespread is not permissible unless it is for an essential need. Travel for a holiday or for fun is not an essential need that would make it permissible to do. Traveling to a land in which sin and evil are widespread, whether it is a Muslim country or not, involves many dangers and haraam actions, including the following:
1 – Sitting in places of entertainment where sins are committed such as drinking alcohol and gambling, entering places of entertainment and dance halls, and not condemning those who do that. This is doing a haraam action and failing to do an obligatory action, whereby the Muslim is guilty of sin.
2 – Loss of modesty because of the tempting scenes and immoral conduct and animalistic behaviour that one sees in those countries.
If you travel adhere to the Deen and fear Allah. Practice the Deen openly, and you should feel proud of the Deen and call others to it and convey its message to the people. You should be a good example and represent the Muslims in a good light.
Traveling when done in order to enable one to carry on with good work, become a good deed itself and is rewarded. When a Muslim wants to travel, he must plan with caution, put his trust on Allah and follow the etiquette for traveling.
Etiquette for Traveling
1 – It is recommended for him to consult those whose religious commitment, experience and knowledge he trusts about traveling at that time. The one who is consulted must be sincere in offering advice and avoid being influenced by whims and desires.
The sahīh ahādīth indicate that the people used to consult the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) with regard to their affairs.
2 – Once he has decided to travel, the Sunnah is to seek Allah’s guidance by praying istikhārah. So he should pray two rak’ahs of non-obligatory prayer, and then recite the du'aa' of istikhārah.
3 – If he has decided to travel for Hajj or jihad or any other purpose, he should start by repenting from all sins and makrūh (disliked) actions; he should put right any wrongs he has done towards people; he should pay off debts and return anything that has been entrusted to him; he should ensure that his funds are from halal earnings.
4 – He should seek to please his parents and those whom he is obliged to honor and obey.
5 – It is recommended for him to seek a companion who desires good and hates evil, so that if he forgets, he can remind him, if he remembers, he can help him, and if he happens to be a man of knowledge, he should stick with him.
6 – It is recommended for him to bid farewell to his family, neighbors, friends and all his loved ones. He should bid them farewell and he should say to each of them:
أَسْتَوْدِعُ اللَّهَ دِينَكَ وَأَمَانَتَكَ وَخَوَاتِيمَ عَمَلِكَ[Ahmad, Ibn Majah]
(I place your religion, your faithfulness and the ends of your deeds in the trust of Allah)
The one who is staying behind should say to the traveler:
زَوَّدَكَ اللَّهُ التَّقْوَى وَغَفَرَ لَكَ ذَنْبَكَ وَيَسَّرَ لَكَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كُنْتَ[Ahmad, Ibn Majah]
(May Allah bless you with taqwa and forgive you your sins and make goodness easy for you wherever you are)
7 – It is Sunnah to say the following du’aa’ when leaving the house:
بسم الله تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ[An-Nasa'i]
Bismillah, tawakkaltu ‘ala Allah, wa laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa billah.
(In the name of Allah, I put my trust in Allah and there is no power and no strength except with Allah.)
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أَضِلَّ أَوْ أُضَّلَّ أَوْ أَظْلِمَ أَوْ أُظْلَمَ أَوْ أَجْهَلَ أَوْ يُجْهَلَ عَلَىَّ[Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah]
Allahumma inni a’oodhu bika min an adilla aw udalla aw azilla aw uzalla aw azlima aw uzlama aw ajhala aw yujhal ‘alayya
(O Allah, I seek refuge with You lest I should stray or be led astray, or slip or be tripped, or do wrong or be wronged, or behave foolishly or be treated foolishly.)
8 -The Sunnah when leaving one’s house and wanting to get up on one’s ride (be it a horse, a car, an airplane etc.) is to say “Bismillah”. Then say:
اَلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ
... Exalted is He who has subjected this to us, and we could not have [otherwise] subdued it. And indeed we, to our Lord, will [surely] return.
[Qur'an, Az-Zukhruf 43:13-14]
9 – Then say Alhamdulillah (praise be to Allah) three times and Allahu Akbar (Allah is most Great) three times, then say:
سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنوُبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ
Glory be to You, verily I have wronged myself, so forgive me, for surely no one can forgive sins except You.
10 – And after that supplicate:
Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
Whenever the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) mounted his camel for setting out on a journey, he would recite: "Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greatest)," thrice. Then he (Allah bless him and grant him peace) would supplicate:
سبحان الذي سخر لنا هذا وما كنا له مقرنين، وإنا إلي ربنا لمنقلبون. اللهم إنا نسألك في سفرنا هذا البر والتقوى، ومن العمل ما ترضي. اللهم هون علينا سفرنا هذا واطو عنا بعده. اللهم أنت الصاحب في السفر والخليفة في الأهل. اللهم إني أعوذ بك من وعثاء السفر وكآبة المنظر وسوء المنقلب في الأهل والمال والولد
Subhanal-ladhi sakh-khara lana hadha, wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin, wa inna ila Rabbina lamunqalibun. Allahumma inna nas'aluka fi safarina hadh al-birra wat-taqwa, wa minal-'amali ma tarda. Allahumma hawwin 'alaina safarana hadha, watwi 'anna bu'dahu. Allahumma Antas-Sahibu fissafari, wal-Khalifatu fil- ahli. Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min wa'ta'is-safari, wa kaabatil- manzari, wa su'il-munqalabi fil-mali wal-ahli wal-waladi
(Far removed from imperfection is the One Who has made this subservient to us, for we have no power to subjugate it, and certainly to our Rabb shall we return. O Allah, we ask You during this journey of ours for righteousness, piety and such deeds as are pleasing to You. O Allah, make easy for us this journey of ours and make the distance short for us. O Allah, You are our Companion during the journey and the Guardian of the family and the property in our absence. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the hardships of traveling, unhappiness connected with ghastly scenes and evil turns in property and family).
When he returned, he recited this supplication making addition of these words:
آيبون تائبون عابدون لربنا حامدون
Ayibuna, ta'ibuna, 'abiduna, li-Rabbina hamidun
(We are those who return; those who repent; those who worship and those who praise our Rabb).
[Muslim].
Abdullah bin Sarjis narrated that:
When the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) wanted to travel, he would say:
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الصَّاحِبُ فِي السَّفَرِ وَالْخَلِيفَةُ فِي الأَهْلِ اللَّهُمَّ اصْحَبْنَا فِي سَفَرِنَا وَاخْلُفْنَا فِي أَهْلِنَا اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ وَعْثَاءِ السَّفَرِ وَكَآبَةِ الْمُنْقَلَبِ وَمِنَ الْحَوْرِ بَعْدَ الْكَوْنِ وَمِنْ دَعْوَةِ الْمَظْلُومِ وَمِنْ سُوءِ الْمَنْظَرِ فِي الأَهْلِ وَالْمَالِ
Allāhumma antaṣ-ṣāḥibu fis safari wal-khalīfatu fil-ahli, allāhumma aṣḥabnā fī safarinā wakhlufnā fī ahlinā. Allāhumma innī a’ūdhu bika min wa`thā’is-safari wa ka’ābatil-munqalab, wa minal-ḥawri ba`dal-kawni, wa min da`watil-maẓlūm, wa min sū’il-manẓari fil-ahli wal-māl
O Allah, You are the companion on the journey, and the caretaker for the family, O Allah, accompany us in our journey, and watch over our families, O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the difficulties of the journey, and from returning in great sadness, and from loss after increase, and from the supplication of the oppressed, and from someone looking with evil at our families and wealth.
[At-Tirmidhi]
11 – It is recommended to travel with a group of people.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “If the people knew what I know about being alone, no one would ever travel alone at night.” (Bukhari).
12 – It is recommended for the group to appoint the best and wisest among them as their ameer (leader) and to obey him.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “When three people set out on a journey, let them appoint one of their number as their leader.” [Abu Dawood]
13 – Adopt a kind and good attitude, and avoid arguing or pushing, backbiting, crankiness or bad manners.
14 – It is recommended for the traveler to say takbeer (Allaahu Akbar) when going up a rise in the land and to say tasbeeh (Subhaan’Allah) when going down into valleys.
15 – If you see a village or town that you want to enter, it is recommended to say:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّى أسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَها وَخَيْرَ أَهْلِهَا وَخَيْرَ مَا فِيهَا وَأعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّهَا وَشَرِّ أَهْلِهَا وَشَرِّ مَا فِيهَا[Al-Hakim]
(O Allah, I ask You for its goodness, the goodness of its people and the goodness of what is in it, and I seek refuge with You from its evil, the evil of its people and the evil of what is in it.)
16- It is recommended to make du’aa’ most of the time when traveling, because one’s du’aa‘ will be answered.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said,
Three supplications are answered without doubt. The supplication of the oppressed, the supplication of the traveler, and the supplication of the parent for his son.[At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud].
17 – Try to remain in a state of purity and to pray on time. Allah has made it easy for you by allowing tayammum and joining and shortening of prayers.
18 – The Sunnah when stopping in a place is to say:
أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “Whoever makes a stop then says: ‘A’oodhu bi kalimaat Allaah il-taammati min sharri ma khalaq (I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of that which He has created),’ nothing will harm him until he moves on from that place.” (Muslim).
19 – It is recommended for a traveling group to camp close to one another and not to be scattered or separated unnecessarily.
“When the people stopped in a place, they would scatter in the mountain passes and valleys. The Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “Your scattering in these mountain passes and valleys is something from the Shaytan.” After that, they never stopped in any place without being close together.” [Abu Dawood]
20 – The Sunnah for the traveler is that when he has done what he set out to do, he should hasten to return to his family.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:
Travel is a kind of torment, which keeps one of you from his food and drink. When one of you has finished what he set out to do, let him hasten back to his family.[Bukhari]
21 – The Sunnah is to say when returning from a journey:
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٍ آيِبُونَ تَائِبُونَ عَابِدُونَ سَاجِدُونَ لِرَبِّنَا حَامِدُونَ صَدقَ اللَّهُ وَعْدَهُ وَنَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ وَهَزَمَ الْأَحْزَابَ وَحْدَهُ
“When he (Allah bless him and grant him peace) came back from a campaign or from Hajj and ‘Umrah, he would say takbeer on every high ground three times, then he would say:
‘Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wahdahu laa shareeka lah, lahu’l-mulk wa lahu’l-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer. Aayiboona taa’iboona ‘aabidoona, saajidoona li rabbina haamidoon. Sadaqa Allaahu wa’dah wa nasara ‘abdah wa hazama al-ahzaaba wahdah’.
(There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner or associate. His is the Dominion, to Him be all praise, and He is Able to do all things. Returning, repenting, worshiping, prostrating to our Lord and praising Him. Allah fulfilled His promise, granted victory to His slave and defeated the confederates Alone). [Bukhari and Muslim]
22 – The Sunnah when returning home is to start by going to the masjid that is nearest one’s home first, and praying two rak’aat with the intention of offering Salaat al-Qudoom (the prayer of arrival) and then go home.
“When he (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) came back from a journey, would start by going to the mosque where he would pray two rak’ahs and then sit down.” (Bukhari & Muslim).
23 – It is recommended to make food for the returning traveler, whether it is made by the traveler himself or by someone else for him.
“When he (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) came back to Madinah from a journey, he would slaughter a camel or a cow.” [Bukhari]
24 – Women cannot travel alone unnecessarily without a mahram (non-marriageable kin) whether that is a long or a short distance.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:
It is not permissible for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to travel for the distance of one day and one night except with a mahram.[Bukhari and Muslim]
Please don't forget us during your travels and include us in your du'as. JazakAllahu khairan.
May Allah accept your du'as and grant us safety and well being wherever we are. Ameen.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
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