Is it permissible to travel to visit Mada'in Saleh and the Dead Sea for the sake of taking a lesson or for tourism?

Question:
May Allah reward you. Is it permissible to visit Mada'in Saleh and the Dead Sea?

Answer:
No, one does not shorten the prayer there, nor does one travel to it for the purpose of visiting. However, if one passes through it on his way to Sham or Tabuk or to [another destination], there is no harm in passing through it for the sake of taking a lesson, not for the sake of admiration, glorification, or praising the civilization of the people of Thamud. If he admires them, his ruling is severe, may Allah protect us from that, because he directed praise toward them and praised them. So he should not intend to visit it or travel for its sake, but if he travels for another purpose and passes through it on his way, there is no objection to him taking a lesson from it.