Explaining the Severity of Traveling to the Lands of the Polytheists

At the beginning of this episode, we return to the letter of our brother Abu Ibrahim from Bahrain. Our brother in this episode asks and says: Many people have been afflicted with travel outside the Islamic countries, where they do not care about committing sins, especially those who travel for what they call the honeymoon. I ask the Shaykh, may Allah preserve him, to please offer advice to his Muslim sons and brothers, and to the authorities, so that they may be aware of this issue?
Answer: In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy. Praise be to Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow his guidance.
As for what follows: There is no doubt that traveling to the lands of disbelief carries great danger, whether in the time of marriage and what is called the honeymoon, or at any other time. It is obligatory for the believer to fear Allah and to beware of the causes of danger. Traveling to the lands of the polytheists, and to countries where there is freedom and no forbidding of evil, poses a great danger to his religion, his morals, and the religion of his wife as well, if she is with him.
Therefore, it is obligatory for all our youth and all our brothers to abandon this practice and turn away from it, and to remain in their own countries during the time of marriage and at other times; perhaps Allah, Exalted and Majestic, will suffice them from the stings of Satan. As for traveling to those lands where there is disbelief, misguidance, freedom, and the spread of corruption such as unlawful sexual intercourse, drinking intoxicants, and various types of disbelief and misguidance, this carries a great danger for both the man and the woman. How many a righteous person traveled and returned corrupt, and how many a Muslim returned a disbeliever. So the danger is great.
And the noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: , and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: meaning: until he separates from the polytheists. So the matter is serious. It is obligatory to beware of traveling to their lands, whether for the honeymoon or otherwise. The scholars have explicitly stated the prohibition of this and warned against it, except for a man who has knowledge and insight, who goes there to call people to Allah and to bring people out of darkness into light, to explain Islam to them, and to care for the Muslims there to guide them and direct them to good. This person has a different status, and much reward is hoped for him, and generally there is no danger to him because of the knowledge, piety, and insight he possesses, and because of the good he intends. As for going for the sake of desires to fulfill worldly needs in the lands of disbelief, in Europe or elsewhere, this carries much danger.
Likewise, traveling there for tourism, or to buy necessities, or to visit some people, or the like of that, is all dangerous... it is all dangerous. And likewise for trade, it is all dangerous. The believer should beware of this and be content with correspondence to obtain the goods he needs, and leave off traveling; because he may travel and lose his religion, lose his morals, and lose his creed, and there is no power and no strength except with Allah.
So my advice to every Muslim is to beware of traveling to the lands of disbelief, and to every land where there is apparent freedom, apparent corruption, and no forbidding of evil. He should remain in his own country where there is safety and few evils, for that is better for him, safer, and more protective of his religion. And Allah is the One who grants success and guidance. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good. What does Shaykh Abdulaziz say about facilitating travel to there in one way or another?
The Shaykh: It is not permissible. It is not permissible to facilitate travel. What some people do of deleting half the value of the ticket is a mistake, and this is assisting in sin and transgression. And Allah, the Exalted, says: [Al-Ma'idah: 2]. So they should not encourage or help, but rather discourage and not help. If they were to prohibit it entirely, that would be more appropriate and better. If the prohibition were facilitated, that would be more obligatory and better. And we ask Allah to guide the state to what pleases Him and to help it to prevent this corruption by the appropriate means that the state is able to do. Yes.
The presenter: What does the Shaykh, may Allah preserve him, see regarding questioning the individuals traveling to those countries where such matters exist? When a person wants to travel to there, why not ask: Why are you traveling and what is the purpose?
The Shaykh: This is good, if this is facilitated, it is good; because it is assisting him in his own self. Perhaps he will be shy, perhaps he will be embarrassed, and perhaps he will repent if he finds someone who gives tickets questioning him, so that he may advise him and discourage him from the harmful travel. That would be good, and this is also part of the treatment. This is part of the treatment. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.