What is the ruling on what is called *tata'is*, which is moving through the deserts in cars going up and down, causing damage to the cars and disturbing the people around them, and jumping on motorcycles?

The questioner : He asked, saying, "May your virtue..."The Shaykh : It has become common in these days, and it may become even more common in the days ahead, for some of the young men to go out and roam the deserts, which they call *tata'is*. We find that some of them spend most of the night traversing the sands up and down. As a result of this, the following has occurred: First, overloading the car beyond what it can bear, which may ruin it or shorten its lifespan. Second, disturbing and harming people, especially when a man is sitting with his family. Third, destroying the vegetation by which Allah has blessed us, so that you hardly find a place where they went up or down without the cars ruining it. Fourth, the terrible accidents that have occurred, in which some people have lost their lives or suffered injuries and fractures. Fifth, what some of them do by jumping cars with motorcycles; that is, they line up the cars under the sand dunes, then the driver comes on his motorcycle from the top of the dunes and jumps to the opposite side. What is the ruling on all of this? What do you advise the guardians? What guidance do you offer to the youth? And what is your guidance to the security authorities?

The Shaykh : All these things mentioned by the questioner are prohibited, some of which occur frequently and some rarely. It is obligatory for the Muslim youth to know his own worth and that he is a Muslim who believes in Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and complies with His command. In these matters, there are harms that are apparent: wasting money, ruining it, and the great danger of harming the believers. There is no doubt that the one who does this is a fool. And Allah the Exalted said: As for the security authorities, it is obligatory for them to prevent what contains evil and corruption to the best of their ability. But there is another thing: the first step before the security authorities is the youth who has a say that is accepted by others; they should increase their warnings against this and make it clear that this is contrary to the Shari'ah, reason, wisdom, and manliness. And as for the guardians who are able to prevent their sons from doing this, they must prevent them. They must prevent them even from going out if their going out is of this nature. But, if Allah wills, the youth will be careful and will know that this is not in their interest but is rather to their detriment in this world and the Hereafter. And then the side of reason will prevail over the side of foolishness, and the side of righteousness over the side of corruption.