Going on holiday...

[farina]

Assalamu 'Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu,

I understand that in everything we do as Muslims, our intentions are very important. But can you please let me know if it is permissible for a Muslim to go away on holiday to take a break from work or school to a beach or island - given that this does not prevent him or her from performing their daily prayers and that they only eat and drink things that are halal?

I can see how someone wanting to visit a certain place to go to its nightclubs would be haram because the intentions aren't right. But we take holidays, and go somewhere quiet to relax and take time out from work and the everyday stresses we have and appreciate the beautiful places Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) has created. Is it wrong to do this?

Jazakallah, thank you for taking the time to read my question.

[Imam]

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

Wa'alaykum 'Assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu


Praise be to Allah the Almighty, who is the Lord of the Universe, and may Endless Blessings be showered upon His Most Beloved, Last, and Final Messenger of Islam (Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam)



Jazak-Allah for your question dear sister in Islam. Outwardly there is 'nothing wrong' with going to an island or a beach for a 'holiday', so long as your Islamic dress, your prayer to Allah the Almighty, your Imaan, and of course, the rest of your Islamic traditions stay in tact.


Normally when people go on 'holiday', they forget to pray Salaah, and say 'oh! I'll pray them when I get back'. This is the greatest form of cheating with Allah the Almighty, given the time, the holiday, the appreciation He has given you, you delay what you would normally owe Him first.


Secondly, people tend to change their dress, they go out in shorts or tops that are western, and try to mingle in with the kuffar. This is definitely not permissable, and action needs to be taken to prevent this. Muslims have their own traditional clothes, values, honour and so forth, it is up to them to see that nothing comes in the way of these, as once you are for Allah, and His Most Beloved Messenger (Salla Allahu ta'ala alayhi wa Sallam), you should not turn and go the other way, just as you would never turn and go away from your family, children, mother and father, brother and sisters etc. Only that Allah and His Messenger (Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam) should be more Beloved to you than anyone else.


Going on 'holiday' also means spending money. As long as you can invest in a better trip, like going on Hajj, or on 'Umrah, or to see the ennobled shrines of the pious predecessors (ziyarah), or to the House of the Most Beloved Messenger of Allah (Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam), then what is more enjoyable than a trip like that ?


The Muslim empire had left great cities and signs of Allah the Almighty (sha'a'ir), which need to be talked about, paid homage to, paid respect to, and visited. If we prevent ourselves, in our lives, from seeing and visiting these, do you really think we would have fulfilled our true desires? So, I can only say to you that you should make a better investment in which you gain reward, experience, education, and a holiday. The choice is yours, as I have a duty to fulfil.



May Allah the Almighty give you, His special Help, in making the true, right, economical, relaxing, educational, and spiritual decision, in which you may benefit both in this world, and the Hereafter. (Amin)


Wallahu A'lamu Biththawaab



M. Waseem Ashrafi