Utilizing the vacation to travel abroad.

The Shaykh : The fifth category: those who go abroad. These people, if they go for the purpose of calling people to Allah, and they have with them knowledge by which they refute doubts and religion by which they resist desires, then that is good. As for those who go for enjoyment, they are in great danger and have fallen into what is prohibited. Because if there were only one thing wrong with this travel, it would be sufficient: the waste of money. This is a certainty, and no two people can disagree that there is waste of money in it, because the cost of tickets is high, and the cost of hotels there is high. This is in addition to the affliction that befalls the heart and the evils that befall the soul. Therefore, we warn our brothers from traveling abroad, for it is a cause of disease and affliction, a waste of time, a waste of money, a corruption of morals, and perhaps a corruption of belief. I mean, I tell you, it is something that undermines belief and we do not realize it. The issue of affection and love today: is the hatred of people today for the non-Muslim like their hatred for him in the past? No, by Allah, absolutely not. In the past, when the name of a Christian or a Jew was mentioned, the skin would shiver. But now, it does not. In fact, some people, may Allah protect us, take charge of non-Muslims more than they take charge of Muslims. And Allah the Exalted said: Traveling to their lands is a cause of affection, an enrichment of their wealth, and an honoring of their homelands, along with the danger it poses to a person's belief and his character. So we ask Allah the Exalted to make us and you in this world among those who, if they sin, seek forgiveness; if they are heedless, they remember; if they are given, they are grateful; and if they are afflicted, they are patient. Indeed, He is Generous and Bountiful. And all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment.
And now we move to the question and answer session, within the limits we had previously set, because long speeches can lead to boredom.

The questioner : May Allah reward our Shaykh with the best reward, benefit us all with what we have heard, and help us in conveying the message.