Traveling to Western Countries for Tourism
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
I would like to travel to Western countries for tourism, despite staying away from forbidden places, to enjoy the nature and atmosphere, and the permissible blessings that Allah has bestowed upon them. Am I sinful in doing so?
Answer:
Yes, it is not permissible to travel to the lands of the disbelievers for the sake of tourism and recreation; because the harm in it is greater. Traveling to the lands of the disbelievers is only permissible in limited circumstances: traveling for trade and then returning, traveling for medical treatment and then returning, traveling to learn a specialization that is not available in the lands of the Muslims and which the Muslims need, and then returning, and traveling to call people to Allah the Exalted. These are valid purposes for which one travels, while holding fast to the religion and staying away from places of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation).
As for one who travels for recreation to the lands of the disbelievers, the default ruling for traveling to the lands of the disbelievers is prohibition; the default ruling is prohibition because of the fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) and evil in it. Even if you say that you control yourself, you are a human being. You cannot be safe from fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) as long as you are alive; you cannot be safe from fitnah. Do not praise yourself by saying, "I cannot be led astray." No, my brother, do not expose yourself to fitnah. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you,
I would like to travel to Western countries for tourism, despite staying away from forbidden places, to enjoy the nature and atmosphere, and the permissible blessings that Allah has bestowed upon them. Am I sinful in doing so?
Answer:
Yes, it is not permissible to travel to the lands of the disbelievers for the sake of tourism and recreation; because the harm in it is greater. Traveling to the lands of the disbelievers is only permissible in limited circumstances: traveling for trade and then returning, traveling for medical treatment and then returning, traveling to learn a specialization that is not available in the lands of the Muslims and which the Muslims need, and then returning, and traveling to call people to Allah the Exalted. These are valid purposes for which one travels, while holding fast to the religion and staying away from places of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation).
As for one who travels for recreation to the lands of the disbelievers, the default ruling for traveling to the lands of the disbelievers is prohibition; the default ruling is prohibition because of the fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) and evil in it. Even if you say that you control yourself, you are a human being. You cannot be safe from fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) as long as you are alive; you cannot be safe from fitnah. Do not praise yourself by saying, "I cannot be led astray." No, my brother, do not expose yourself to fitnah. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you,
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، محاضرات في العقيدة والدعوة-109-ولا تنازعوا فتفشلوا|صالح الفوزان|كبار العلماء — youtube.com (35:15)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.