The ruling on traveling to visit historical sites and idols

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, what is the ruling on visiting historical sites such as Mada'in Saleh and the pyramids?

Answer:
Traveling to them is not permissible. However, if one passes by them on his way and looks at them for the sake of taking a lesson and being admonished, such as the dwellings of the Thamud in al-Hijr for the sake of the lesson and admonition, there is nothing wrong with that. And it is better that he not enter them. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to his companions when they passed by the dwellings of the Thamud: except if you are weeping, lest what befell them befall you. So traveling with the specific intention of visiting them is not permissible. But if he passes by them on his way and enters them for the sake of taking a lesson, with fear of Allah, there is nothing wrong with that. As for entering them out of admiration for them or merely to look at them, that is not permissible, because he did not fear Allah the Exalted and Majestic. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "except if you are weeping." And as for going to the idols, the statues, the Sphinx, and the like, that is absolutely not permissible. It is not permissible; this is an abomination. You go to see abominations; this is an abomination and is not permissible, because these statues are forbidden. And if he visits them, he has approved of them and has not denounced them, so he should not go to them. Yes.