What is the ruling on visiting historical sites, and is there a difference between visiting the dwellings of the people who wronged themselves, such as Mada'in Saleh, and visiting the sites of the Muslims, such as the cave?
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The questioner : He says:The questioner : What is the ruling on visiting historical sites? And is there a difference between visiting the dwellings of the people who wronged themselves, such as Mada'in Saleh, and visiting the sites of the Muslims, such as the Cave of Hira?
The Shaykh : Like what?
The questioner : The Cave of Hira.
The Shaykh : Visiting historical sites is divided into two categories: visiting the sites of those upon whom the anger of Allah was invoked. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade this, except for one who visits them to take a lesson. He said (peace and blessings be upon him) when he passed by the dwellings of the Thamud on his way to Tabuk:Sahih al-Bukhari 433
As for visiting religious historical sites, such as the Cave of Hira and the Cave of Thawr, if a person intends to worship Allah by doing so, it is a religious innovation (bid'ah) that is forbidden. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not worship by going to Hira after Allah revealed the revelation to him, nor did his Companions frequent this cave to worship in that manner. The same applies to the Cave of Thawr. However, if a person intends to view these sites merely for the sake of information, there is nothing wrong with it. Thus, visiting these sites that have religious associations is a religious innovation (bid'ah) if the person intends to worship, because that was not prescribed in the religion of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). But if he intends to gain information and learn about these sites, there is nothing wrong with it.
The Shaykh : Like what?
The questioner : The Cave of Hira.
The Shaykh : Visiting historical sites is divided into two categories: visiting the sites of those upon whom the anger of Allah was invoked. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade this, except for one who visits them to take a lesson. He said (peace and blessings be upon him) when he passed by the dwellings of the Thamud on his way to Tabuk:
Do not enter (the places) of these people where Allah's punishment had fallen unless you do so weeping. If you do not weep, do not enter (the places of these people)
لا تدخلوا إلى ديار هؤلاء المعذّبين إلا أن تكونوا باكين فإن لم تكونوا باكين فلا تدخلوا عليهمAs for visiting religious historical sites, such as the Cave of Hira and the Cave of Thawr, if a person intends to worship Allah by doing so, it is a religious innovation (bid'ah) that is forbidden. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not worship by going to Hira after Allah revealed the revelation to him, nor did his Companions frequent this cave to worship in that manner. The same applies to the Cave of Thawr. However, if a person intends to view these sites merely for the sake of information, there is nothing wrong with it. Thus, visiting these sites that have religious associations is a religious innovation (bid'ah) if the person intends to worship, because that was not prescribed in the religion of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). But if he intends to gain information and learn about these sites, there is nothing wrong with it.