The Ruling on Passing Through the Lands of the Punished and Intending to Visit Them
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Question:
What is the ruling on passing through the lands of the punished and intending to visit them? What is the report regarding this? And is it permissible for people to intend to visit them and travel to them?
Answer:
As for if a person is on his way to Sham or to the north and passes by them, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih al-Bukhari 4420
And when the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions passed by them, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) covered himself with his garment until he had passed by them. And a person intending to visit them and traveling to them, this is not desirable. But if he is passing by on his way and looks at them or enters them for the sake of taking a lesson, this is not intentional; this is without intention, yes, on the condition that he is fearful and that he is weeping, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded. But if he is amazed and says, "This is civilization, this is progress, this is advancement," and he praises this, this is not permissible, yes.
What is the ruling on passing through the lands of the punished and intending to visit them? What is the report regarding this? And is it permissible for people to intend to visit them and travel to them?
Answer:
As for if a person is on his way to Sham or to the north and passes by them, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Do not enter upon these people who are being punished, except in a weeping state,
لا تدخلوا على هؤلاء المعذبين الا ان تكونوا باكين. انAnd when the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions passed by them, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) covered himself with his garment until he had passed by them. And a person intending to visit them and traveling to them, this is not desirable. But if he is passing by on his way and looks at them or enters them for the sake of taking a lesson, this is not intentional; this is without intention, yes, on the condition that he is fearful and that he is weeping, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded. But if he is amazed and says, "This is civilization, this is progress, this is advancement," and he praises this, this is not permissible, yes.
Source
شرح مسائل الجاهلية [ صالح الفوزان ]، بداية من المسألة الثانية والخمسين : القدح في حكمة الله تعالى — islamhouse.com (48:33)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.