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10 Reasons Why Muslims Should Travel

Traveling is healthy for the body, mind, and spirit; Islam prescribes these exact reasons to why Muslims should travel.

If you’re looking for encouragement to plan your next adventure , here are eight wonderful benefits of traveling to help you decide.

1 – Create Meaningful Relationships 

Knowing and learning about others is part of our deen. Allah says in the Qur’an,

“O mankind, indeed we have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another […]” (Al-Hujurat 49:13)

Visiting, experiencing, and relating to new people and cultures helps improve both your social and communication skills. You’re always likely to make some new friends along the journey. Traveling to new places allows you to build new relationships . 

You can also use the challenges, experiences, and new knowledge about yourself to strengthen existing relationships . 

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2 – Shake Things Up

Travel keeps things interesting! If you are feeling confused, stagnant, or just plain bored in your life, taking a break from the ordinary can help you move forward . New experiences help you process old ones to make fresh, interesting connections in your brain. 

Traveling can also act as a muse to your creativity . It helps you gather and assimilate new, original, and creative thoughts. Anytime you are feeling stuck or need a change of pace, travel is the perfect solution. 

Travel also enhances and grows the amount of uncertainty you’re able to tolerate. And tolerance to change is a great skill to have when you head back to a more stable and settled life . Because no matter where you are, your days will always have unexpected challenges and hiccups: that’s life!  

3 – Prove Dreams Come True 

The whole experience of travel involves both planning and achieving your dreams . There is goal setting, itineraries, mapping out your experience, and waiting for the date. Travel is a new experience in space and time that usually requires both money-saving and pining for the experience. 

There is a deep sense of accomplishment during and after travel. You’ve proven to yourself that you can achieve any dreams and goals when you apply yourself to them.

4 – Gain Peace of Mind

While some people use travel as a temporary (or semi-permanent) escape. It can also give you a renewed sense of peace with yourself and your “regular” living environment. 

Travel — especially to drastically different cultures and faraway lands — can help you gain gratitude and appreciation for what you already have in your life. Travel inspires you to make peace with what you have and be grateful for your many privileges and blessings.

5 – Broaden Your Horizons

This travel reason is cliché but true. You don’t understand all that you don’t know until you’re exposed to it. Traveling helps you understand and see that you have a lot to learn . 

There is a mystery to unlock about you, others, and the world we all live in. Traveling throughout the land gives you a chance to expand your maps of how you move in the world and gain new perspectives. Travel can also help you connect to God, His creation, nature, and the universe in ways that you can’t when locked in a box of your own making.

Islam doesn’t want us to stay blind to the ways and cultures of others. In fact, quite the opposite. Allah commands us to travel:

“Say, [O Muhammad], ‘Travel through the land and observe how He began creation. Then Allah will produce the final creation. Indeed, Allah, over all things, is competent.’” ( Al-`Ankabut  29:20)

6 – Collect Cool Stories

Travel gives you a wealth of memories to last you a lifetime. While there will be some fun (and some harrowing) experiences, no matter what happens, it will always be an adventure. Traveling helps you loosen up and have a good time experiencing new places, cultures, and people. Travel creates feel-good memories that you can share with your friends and family, or recall whenever you need to go back to a “happy place.”

7 – Challenge Yourself

If you feel you’re stuck in a rut in your daily life, travel can help you break free. Travel pushes you to the limits of what you can tolerate and master. This helps you get to know yourself better . Getting in touch with yourself, your essence, and your uniqueness are some of the greatest gifts travel gives you. 

8 – Gain a Real-life Education

When you are on the ground in a new place, there is much learning to do in a short amount of time. You must work through puzzles and challenges on the fly. Traveling pushes you to develop new skills — even learn new languages — to both survive and thrive.

9 – Boost Your Confidence

Traveling, especially solo traveling, makes you trust yourself and become more self-reliant . It gives you a chance to understand and use your unique gifts to conquer new challenges. The more you practice traveling, the more your confidence builds and the easier it gets. This means that over time it will become easier to identify your fears and overcome them in new situations. 

10 – Food! (For Thought)

Last but not least, let’s not forget the new foods. We tie so much of our cultures into the foods we eat. The spices, the preparation, the ceremony of serving: food is a powerful way to understand others. 

When you understand the foods others eat and why they eat them, you get to know them on one of their most primal levels. We also can’t deny that most of the new foods you’ll taste on your travels are delicious!

Remember, you don’t have to go far to experience all these benefits of travel. Even a few hundred miles (or kilometers) out of your hometown can expose you to all the challenges, situations, and people who will help you grow. 

Where have you always wanted to visit? What’s stopping you other than yourself? Enough with the excuses: take the leap and start planning your next trip today.

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Islam and Spiritualism ( 3 Jun 2020 , NewAgeIslam.Com)

Teachings of quran and hadith on rights of travellers: are muslims following them.

By S. Arshad, New Age Islam  

03 June 2020

The holy Quran has guaranteed the rights of every human being. It has determined the rights of the parents, rights of the wives, rights of children, rights of the neighbours, of the orphans, the widows and the destitute. The Quran did not ignore the rights of the travellers and stressed on their rights as well.

"They ask you what to spend, tell them to spend their wealth on their parents, on relatives, on orphans, on the needy and on the travellers."( Al Baqarah:215)

"Give the relatives, the needy and the travellers their due”. (Bani Israil:26)  

The holy Prophet pbuh exhorted Muslims to help the travellers: There is a Hadith on the importance of helping the travellers.

Hazrat Abu Huraira narrated: The holy Prophet pbuh said, "The supplication of three kinds of people is accepted without any doubt. The supplication of the oppressed, the supplication of the travellers and the supplication of parents in favour of the son."(Tirmidhi, Dawood)

In the present situation in the country when migrant workers are travelling thousands of miles with their families on foot without food and water, the teachings of the Quran and Hadiths assume relevance and greater significance. The teachings remind Muslims of their social and religious duty to help the hapless migrant workers with water, food and shelter and help them reach their homes safely. The Quran and Hadith do not discriminate travellers on the basis of religion. Muslims should extend help to every traveller who is in need. Ignoring their plight while being in a position to help will be a great sin.  

It's heartening that the Muslim community has kept in mind the teachings of the Quran and Hadith on the rights of travellers and have come forward with help for them with whatever resources were available with them. They have provided food, water and fruits to the migrant workers on the way. However, they should help them in a more organised manner and with a greater zeal. This is the best time to prove that "they are the best people brought for mankind."

S. Arshad is a regular columnist for NewAgeIslam.com

URL:  https://www.newageislam.com/islam-spiritualism/teachings-quran-hadith-rights-travellers/d/122022

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What you need to know when travelling during Ramadan

Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, but how do you navigate travelling during this time and should you be travelling at all? 

Ramadan is the month in which Muslims believe God first spoke to the Prophet Muhammad; when the community won its very first battle and when Muhammad returned triumphant to Mecca in 630 CE.

In the month of Ramadan, Muslims enter a period of pious abstinence during the day, fasting from sunrise until sunset, and engage in fervent worship through the night. As a result, many Muslim-majority countries adjust their societal norms accordingly. So, what is it like to travel to these places in Ramadan, and should we travel to them during this month? Here are the answers to key questions on travellers’ minds.

How do I know when Ramadan starts?

Every year Ramadan falls on a different date in the Gregorian calendar. This is because the Islamic calendar follows the actual cycle of the moon and so the start date is only confirmed the night before when the new moon has been sighted. Even then, regional differences mean Muslims often start and end Ramadan on slightly different days. For example, while many Sunni Muslim countries will follow the announcement by Saudi Arabia, some will go with their own domestic sighting, so it’s important to check locally if you’re trying to avoid the month or are seeking it out.

Can I eat in public during daylight hours?

This all depends on what kind of Muslim area you’re travelling to. If it’s a place in a Muslim country with a religiously mixed community, like Sarajevo in Bosnia or a place used to hosting non-Muslim tourists throughout the year, like Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt, then yes, this is fine. However, when travelling through Muslim-majority communities that are not mixed or unfamiliar with tourism, it’s best to eat and drink behind closed doors during the day.

Can I consume alcohol (and what about soft drinks)?

Where the community is mixed or used to serving non-Muslim tourist traffic, the bars will most likely be open and function as normal. In areas where the community is largely Muslim or unfamiliar with tourists, such as the Muslim-majority state of Pattani in southern Thailand, it’s unlikely you’ll even be able to source alcohol there and, if you do, as with eating in public, it’s advisable to drink it behind closed doors.  

Will every Muslim be fasting?

While fasting is an obligation for every able adult Muslim, those that are ill, pregnant, breastfeeding, menstruating or travelling don’t have to fast. However, even these Muslims will be respectful in areas where everyone appears to be fasting by not eating or drinking outside during daylight hours.

What should I be wearing and is it any different to any other time of the year?

No, you should wear whatever you would expect to be wearing in your destination based on your research, as there are no specific changes to the way Muslims dress during Ramadan. However, some may choose to dress more conservatively because of the pious mindsight they’ll be adopting during the month.

Are tourist attractions, shops and restaurants open?

Muslim-majority towns and cities will make a noticeable shift in the working hours of most businesses during Ramadan. However, to which degree will again largely depend on the kind of Muslim area you’re travelling to. For example, in Muslim-majority Tunisia somewhere like Kairouan, a very holy city not on the popular tourist trail, will appear sleepier and slower during the day with most local businesses opening and closing much later than usual (if at all). Meanwhile, almost nothing may change for travellers visiting the Tunisian tourist hotspot of Sidi Bou Said, during Ramadan.

Will I be allowed to visit mosques, shrines or Sufi lodges (sacred religious spaces separate from the mosque) during Ramadan?

Once the sun sets, places of worship will be heaving with people during Ramadan and this will continue right through to the early hours of the morning. In the multi-religious and tourist savvy places, it may be possible to join an iftar — the meal to break the fast — for free at a large mosque, but otherwise the ideal time to visit places of worship will be between dhuhr (midday) and asr (mid-afternoon) prayers. This is because the caretakers of these spaces will be resting in the early part of the day following lengthy prayers late into the previous night. That said, many larger mosques and spaces of worship in tourist cities, such as Istanbul, may open as normal during the early part of the day.

What regional differences can I expect during Ramadan?

Each region will have its own distinct Ramadan foods, be they sickly sweet jalebis across the subcontinent, delicious mercimek çorbası   (lentil   soup) in Anatolia or filling koshari in Egypt. In Bosnia, many large mosques host live Qur’anic recitations where locals gather to listen during the day, while in Malaysia the mouthwatering iftar buffets at hotels are legendary. Meanwhile, the nights across the Gulf are filled with shrieking crowds watching nocturnal neighbourhood football tournaments and in Algeria it’s the sound of traditional chaabi and ma’luf music you’ll hear drifting out of local theatres playing host to special late night Ramadan concerts.

How might I experience Ramadan best as a tourist?

With night effectively turning to day, if you do intend to travel to a Muslim-majority place during Ramadan, do what the locals do. Sleep in the early part of the day and stay up late into the night, revelling in the festive atmosphere of town centres and around large mosques, before eating the delicious and unique Ramadan foods and heading out to either watch a raucous local cup final in a Jeddah neighbourhood, or join a concert in Constantine.

Related Topics

• RELIGIOUS TRAVEL
• CULTURAL TOURISM
• ISLAMIC WORLD

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Muslim Girl

10 Essential Islamic Etiquettes for Traveling

“Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.” Dalai Lama

Ah, traveling fills the soul and nourishes the spirit to explore the hidden beauty of diversified cultures worldwide. Islam has taught us the essential Islamic etiquette when traveling for us to be the best version of ourselves when we set foot in a foreign place. How wonderful is that? SubhanAllah.

From the two Easts and Wests, Allah Almighty has Created people of different ethnicities, religions, and cultures to widen our weltanschauung, practice humility, and spark our curiosity to learn beyond borders. 

Have you traveled anywhere in the world before? If so, what was the experience like, and did you learn something new? Oftentimes we look forward to having a fantastic experience when we travel.

We can’t wait to indulge in the atmosphere, take Insta-worthy pictures to share with our friends, and try out their unique cuisines. But have we ever reflected on whether or not we practice specific etiquette when traveling according to the Islamic teachings as mentioned in the Qur’an and Sunnah?

If you have never thought of it — and it’s normal to overlook this! — here is some essential Islamic etiquette when traveling the next time with your family and friends, InshaAllah. 

1. Fulfil Your Responsibilities and Settle Your Debts if Any

Before you begin your journey, fulfill whatever responsibility is required for your role. If you are a parent and will be leaving your children, ensure that your children are left with money and a trusted caretaker. If you are a student, make sure that your assignments are complete prior to your hiatus. If you have any debts to pay, settle them as soon as you can before leaving for an adventure.

It has been reported on the authority of ‘Amr b. al-‘As that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “All the sins of a Shahid (martyr) are forgiven except debt.” [Sahih Muslim]

2. Travel with Good Intentions

Everything begins with the right intention, so what is yours? Have you ever pondered on why you engage in traveling in the first place? Is it to seek knowledge from saints and sages in another country? Is it to find inner peace? Whatever reason you have decided must be beneficial for you and should not be blameworthy. Remember, there are a lot of rewards — tenfold in fact — for those who rectify their intentions before performing deeds, InshaAllah.

It is narrated on the authority of Amir al-Mu’minin (Leader of the Believers), Abu Hafs ‘Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), say “Actions are according to intentions, and everyone will get what was intended. Whoever migrates with an intention for Allah and His messenger, the migration will be for the sake of Allah and his Messenger. And whoever migrates for worldly gain or to marry a woman, then his migration will be for the sake of whatever he migrated for.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

3. Find Good Company to Travel with

It has always been a dream for some people to travel alone. Just like in the movie Eat, Pray, Love , the main character found wisdom and gained experience traveling alone…but unfortunately, it is not encouraged for Muslims to embark on a journey alone for safety reasons. There’s a lot that could go wrong when we travel to a foreign place we’ve never set foot on!

Ibn ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Were people to know of what I know about the dangers of traveling alone, no rider would travel alone at night.” [Al-Bukhari]

Instead, find good company to travel with. This way, it will be easier for you and others to navigate your way safely, and gain a much more insightful experience, InshaAllah. 

‘Amr bin Shu’aib (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “A single rider is (accompanied with) Satan and two riders are (accompanied with) two Satans. Three riders form a group.” [At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud]

4. Do Not Go Overboard with Your Expenses

Sometimes our desires get the best of us. We buy things from overseas for the sake of sentimental value. You think to yourself that you never know when you’ll get a chance to visit this country again and justify your splurging.

What started as a “little” treat can quickly become enough silverware, souvenirs, t-shirts, and touristy items to fill a suitcase or two. You might not regret buying all of those…until you look at your bank account.

Is it worth buying all of those things just for the sake of sentimental value and proof that you have gone to this country? You can buy a thing or two, but going overboard with spending is not an encouraged practice in Islam. Islam encourages spending modestly.

To practice essential etiquette when traveling, set and categorize each budget before you embark on your journey. This way you won’t exceed your card limit. For instance, budget set amounts for food, transportation, accommodations, and spending money. With proper planning and execution, you will always have enough money for rainy days, InshaAllah.

“وَءَاتِ ذَا ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ حَقَّهُۥ وَٱلْمِسْكِينَ وَٱبْنَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَلَا تُبَذِّرْ تَبْذِيرًا

Give to close relatives their due, as well as the poor and ˹needy˺ travelers. And do not spend wastefully.” [Quran 17:26]

5. Bid Your Family Members Farewell

Death is inevitable, so Islamic teachings are preparing Muslims for the worst-case scenario. One of the proper etiquettes, before we set to travel, is bidding our family members farewell for we do not know what the future holds.

Take this opportunity to gather all our family members, ask for forgiveness and their blessings, and bid them goodbye before you begin your adventure. At the very least, when you have done this, you have already made amends with your family and relatives; let bygones be bygones before you leave. 

 يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱتَّقُوا۟ رَبَّكُمُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَٰحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيرًا وَنِسَآءً ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِى تَسَآءَلُونَ بِهِۦ وَٱلْأَرْحَامَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا “O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife [Hawwa (Eve)], and from them both He created many men and women and fear Allah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allah is Ever an All-Watcher over you.” [Qur’an 4:1]

6. Recite Essential Du’as before Traveling

There are several du’as you can recite before you leave your home and begin your travel. Always ask Allah Almighty for His Divine Blessings, Protection, and Heavenly Care. Here are some of the du’as you can practice:

Du’a for traveling:

سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ. “Glory unto Him Who created this transportation, for us, though we were unable to create it on our own. And unto our Lord we shall return.” [Qur’an 43:13-14]

Du’a when returning from traveling:

ا للهُ أَكْـبَر، ا للهُ أَكْـبَر، ا للهُ أَكْـبَر،لا إلهَ إلاّ اللّهُ وَحْـدَهُ لا شريكَ لهُ، لهُ الملكُ ولهُ الحَمْد، وهُوَ على كُلّ شَيءٍ قَـدير، آيِبـونَ تائِبـونَ عابِـدونَ لِرَبِّـنا حـامِـدون، صَدَقَ اللهُ وَعْـدَه، وَنَصَـرَ عَبْـدَه، وَهَزَمَ الأَحْـزابَ وَحْـدَه. “Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, alone, without partner. To Him belongs all Sovereignty and Praise, and He is over all things Omnipotent. We return, repent, worship and praise our Lord. Allah fulfilled His Promise, aided His Servant, and single-handedly defeated the allies.” [Al-Bukhari]

Du’a for protection:

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ “In the Name of Allah with Whose Name there is protection against every kind of harm in the earth or in heaven, and He is All-Hearing and All-Knowing.” [Sunan Abi Daud]

7. Offer Sunnah Musafir Prayer

If you do have the time before you travel, offer two raka’ah of Salatul Musafir to ask Allah Almighty for protection, safety, and ultimately His Blessings. You can refer to the du’as above to recite after you’ve completed your prayer. This is recommended and not obligatory for every Muslim.

8. Observe Your Manners and Dress Appropriately

When you visit a foreign place, you should do your best to observe your manners, be humble, and wear appropriately to blend in with the locals. Some of the unfavorable acts include talking or laughing loudly, making insensitive or racist jokes, littering…and the list goes on and on.

When you visit a new place, especially if it is underdeveloped or considered a poor country, do not be arrogant! Always practice humility, and humbleness and do your part to share your wealth with those in need. Remember, whatever you say or do reflects the image of Islam, so do and act your best, InshaAllah.

Abu Huraira (may Allah be Pleased with him) related that the Prophet ﷺ said: The Lord’s commandment for every one of His slaves is, ‘Spend on others, and I will spend on you’. [Bukhari, Muslim]

9. Don’t Forget to Buy Souvenirs

Fancy some unique trinkets to give your loved ones? Buy them and give them as gifts to your friends and family! Little acts of kindness go a long way, and this act will let them know you are thinking about them and appreciate their existence, mashaAllah. 

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Exchange gifts, as that will lead to increasing your love for one another.” [Bukhari]

Asmah (may Allah be Pleased with her) related that the Prophet ﷺ said: Spend, and do not count, lest Allah counts against you. Do not withhold your money, lest Allah withholds from you. Spend what you can. [Bukhari, Muslim]

10. Learn Something New

Explore the world with an open mind. Begin the first step with the right intention; to gain knowledge for the sake of Allah Almighty and His Messenger, Peace, and Blessings be upon him. Sometimes, all we care for is the thrill to experience a whole different world in another country and nothing more. Does that really fully satisfy us as Muslims? Do we not want to seek anything else other than the thrill?

This is a great time for us to learn something new from someone or something we observe in another country. Just like the saints and sages in the past who have embarked on spiritual and insightful journeys to explore new realms of knowledge in the hidden parts of the world, we too should emulate such excitement to embark on the quest for ‘ilm. 

Abu Huraira (may Allah be Pleased with him), reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The best of you in Islam are those with the best character if they have religious understanding.” [Musnad Ahmad]

In retrospect, going on a journey to travel and explore the beauty of the world is in fact recommended and encouraged in Islam. It is a means to open our eyes to new possibilities, widen our perspective and sharpen our wisdom to become more virtuous and knowledgeable Muslims.

If you were given an opportunity to go somewhere around the world, where would you go? Why? What are some of the places you would like to go at that particular place? How do you think you going to that country would benefit you? Ask these questions yourself and you will find an answer within you, InshaAllah.

By Lily Syahirah Ramlan

From DIY pilgrimages to halal restaurant tips: how this travel blogger built a community of Muslim travelers

Jan 21, 2022 • 6 min read

Elena Nikolova (pictured) has spent years building a resource for Muslim travelers who are looking for relevant information and good deals.

Elena Nikolova converted to Islam in 2009. Four years later, she channeled her wanderlust into a new endeavor: helping other Muslims travel the world.

On one of Elena Nikolova’s first trips as a Muslim, she realized travel for her had changed forever. Visiting Bulgaria from the United Kingdom , she saw how her new halal diet was at odds with her pork-heavy, Bulgarian-Greek upbringing. It wasn’t long before Nikolova also noticed she was getting extra checks at the airport and more attention once she landed because of her hijab.

“I realized that whether we wanted it or not, there is prejudice against those who wear a hijab,” Nikolova said. “I realized that kind of puts Muslims off traveling.” 

Since she converted to Islam in 2009, Nikolova has worked to make travel more accessible and comfortable for Muslims. A lover of deals, she began to share cheap fares and travel hacks on social media to encourage others in her new community to travel too. As a student in the UK, she often booked the longest layovers possible on her way back home to Greece just so she could explore new places. 

An online forum for advocating Muslim travel 

Upon the urging of a friend, Nikolova transformed her expertise into the blog Muslim Travel Girl in 2013, with the goal of helping Muslims travel while being confident in their identities and without breaking the bank. Right away, she started receiving questions related to airport security and whether certain countries were welcoming to Muslims. Her readers, mostly based in North America and Europe , were apprehensive. One of Muslim Travel Girl’s most popular videos , for example, is on navigating airports as a hijab-wearing Muslim woman.

Building a comfort zone

“Throughout the past seven years, we've gone through [issues with] the media and Muslims, and the hijab and problems with women traveling,” she said. “The whole point of a Muslim travel blog is to help and encourage those people, to give them the resources to actually find destination information.” 

While other resources exist, Nikolova says it was especially hard to find information that spoke directly to the experience of traveling as a Muslim when she started the blog. “Even though travel [for Muslims] in general is not so different, we have some differences, like [needing] places to pray or [specific] food to eat,” she said. “Not every Muslim needs these, but it should be there.”

A recent survey found  the availability of halal food and prayer facilities among the most cited faith-based needs of Muslim travelers. Since 9/11, many Muslim travelers say they’ve faced discrimination at airports and on airplanes, ranging from extra security searches and intense questioning by airport staff to unexplainable visa troubles and hostility from fellow passengers.

The 'halal tourism' boom

At the same time, the Muslim-friendly travel market, or “halal tourism” as some call it, has been booming. The industry caters to Muslim travelers looking for destinations that meet their faith-based needs, be it a place to pray, alcohol-free hotels or women-only pools and spas. Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it was estimated that by 2026, 230 million Muslim tourists would travel, locally and abroad, up from 98 million in 2010. By that time, Muslim travelers were expected to inject $300 billion into the global economy. With COVID-19, it’s now estimated it will take until 2023 to return to the same levels of Muslim tourists seen in 2019. 

Nikolova attributes this increase in Muslim travelers to the global aspirations of younger Muslims, more disposable income and the persuasive power of social media. With more travelers, she says, has also come more blogs on Muslim-friendly travel, more interest from big brands and companies, conferences on the topic, and travel agencies like Halalbooking.com . 

From credit card rewards to dinner recommendations

As the demographic makeup of Muslim travelers has changed, so has what Nikolova’s readers want. While initially some of Muslim Travel Girl’s most popular and requested posts were on the practicalities of traveling as a Muslim, she says now that more Muslims are traveling, the interest has shifted to what destinations to visit, insider travel tips and halal food recommendations in those places. One of their most popular topics is advice on DIY Umrah , so travelers can take the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca without using a travel agent or expensive tour package. 

Bassam Ansari, who is based in Saudi Arabia , first discovered Muslim Travel Girl in 2013 through a friend. He says he often visits the site for its hotel and flight deals and has saved significant money through the site’s advice, which he finds to be personable and genuine.

“Using her reviews and travel advice I have found the best possible hotel options in quite a few different destinations,” he said. For example, Ansari says he saved 70 percent on the cost of a standard hotel room in Mecca during Ramadan, finding a room for $300 instead of the usual $1,000, because of Nikolova’s advice on how to effectively buy and use hotel reward points.

Small changes that make a big difference

Nikolova, who splits her time between Saudi Arabia and the UK, says Muslim Travel Girl is now one of the largest Muslim-friendly blogs in the West. She works on it full-time and also offers consultancy services to hotels and resorts on how to be more accommodating to Muslim guests. Even simple changes like providing soft drinks, non-alcoholic wine or fresh fruit in a welcome package, instead of wine, which is customary in places like Greece, can make a big difference in making someone feel more comfortable, she says. 

“It's important to feel safe when you travel and that your needs as a Muslim traveler are taken care of. This is why I'm passionate about…working with hotels in the industry to provide more facilities and more knowledge for Muslims,” she said. “Every destination should be Muslim friendly.”

Having converted to Islam as an adult, Nikolova says she is able to identify with both non-Muslims and Muslims, and that sense of empathy helped in the initial stages of writing Muslim Travel Girl. She says her expertise hasn’t been questioned because she converted to the religion, instead of being born into it, though she can understand that point of view.

“When you are writing about something that is on a specific inclusivity, whether it's halal travel or whether it is accessibility travel, you have to have a basic understanding and principles in order to be accurate in your writing,” she said. “For me, I'm a Muslim, I'm a travel expert, and I have that knowledge because I've worked and lived that life for the past 10 years.” 

Travel opens your mindset

Part of why travel is so important, Nikolova says, is because it can counter misconceptions and prejudice. When she converted to Islam, for instance, her Greek Orthodox parents were not happy about it. But after she and her mother traveled to numerous countries together, including her mother spending a year in Doha, Qatar when Nikolova’s daughter was born, things changed. 

“It's one of the reasons why I'm so passionate about traveling and encouraging Muslims to travel, because you open your mindset,” Nikolova said. “Traveling brings us closer. You wouldn't know your neighbor if you didn’t talk to them. It's the same thing with going and exploring a different city; you wouldn't meet locals and talk to them if you didn't visit.” 

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Islam and Travel in the Middle Ages

Houari Touati

In the Middle Ages, Muslim travelers embarked on a rihla , or world tour, as surveyors, emissaries, and educators. On these journeys, voyagers not only interacted with foreign cultures—touring Greek civilization, exploring the Middle East and North Africa, and seeing parts of Europe—they also established both philosophical and geographic boundaries between the faithful and the heathen. These voyages thus gave the Islamic world, which at the time extended from the Maghreb to the Indus Valley, a coherent identity.

Islam and Travel in the Middle Ages assesses both the religious and philosophical aspects of travel, as well as the economic and cultural conditions that made the rihla possible. Houari Touati tracks the compilers of the hadith who culled oral traditions linked to the prophet, the linguists and lexicologists who journeyed to the desert to learn Bedouin Arabic, the geographers who mapped the Muslim world, and the students who ventured to study with holy men and scholars. Travel, with its costs, discomforts, and dangers, emerges in this study as both a means of spiritual growth and a metaphor for progress. Touati’s book will interest a broad range of scholars in history, literature, and anthropology.

304 pages | 1 map | 6 x 9 | © 2010

Geography: Cultural and Historical Geography

History: Middle Eastern History

Literature and Literary Criticism: Classical Languages

Medieval Studies

Middle Eastern Studies

Religion: Islam

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“Much learning supports Touati’s book, which gives us a richer sense of the driving forces behind travel in the Islamic Middle Ages than we have had before.”

Francis Robinson | Times Literary Supplement

“This is an elegant work of exploration and synthesis, linking Greek analysis of the sensorium to Muslim debates concerning the priority of seeing over hearing. The range of original sources from Islamic civilization is stunning, including medieval litterateurs from al-Jāhiz to al-Bīrūnī to Ibn Khallikān. Travel as both experience and metaphor, practice and trope, is illumined here by Touati in cogent vignettes that engage—and advance—current debates about knowledge, its acquisition, its soundness, and its permeable boundaries. No other book like it exists in the library of scholarship on Islam and the Muslim world.”

Bruce B. Lawrence, Duke University

“Many of us appreciate the unique importance of travel and exile for Islamic literature and thought. In English, however, we have had nothing to rival Touati’s Islam and Travel in the Middle Ages , with its subtle, original argument, its elegant style, and its wide and profound coverage of original sources. Touati brings together a rich variety of topics and themes, with an underlying epistemological distinction—between ‘audition’ and ‘eyewitnessing’—that informed the experience of Muslim travelers and their literary output. We are fortunate to have this fluent, precise English translation.”

Michael Bonner, University of Michigan

“ Islam and Travel in the Middle Ages considers travel from an unorthodox and engaging perspective—not as a question of commerce, transportation, or engineering, but as conceptual category, intellectual quest, and epistemological value. By thoughtful engagement with Arabic texts of various genres, including but by no means limited to travelogues, Touati shows how knowledge was acquired, valued, packaged, and disseminated, as well as the categories by which it was conceived and defined. The publication of this work in French revealed a noticeable gap in our synthetic understanding of the voyage as both a mode of knowledge and a means for the production of knowledge in medieval Islamicate societies; it has now been enhanced in this painstaking English translation.”

Franklin D. Lewis, University of Chicago

“Elegantly written, superbly documented, and imaginative in scope and analysis, this erudite and interesting book is the definitive account of how travel in Islam was knowledge, practice, combat, image, and absence.”

Brannon Wheeler, United States Naval Academy

Table of Contents

Preface to the English-Language Edition (2010)

Acknowledgments (2000)

Introduction

Chapter 1: Invitation to the Voyage

            The ‘ilm , an Onomastic Emblem

            A Catastrophic Theory of Knowledge

            The Genealogical Structure of Knowledge

Chapter 2: The School of the Desert

            Linguists and Bedouins

            The Stay in the Desert

            A Geography of Pure Language

            A Theory of the Stay in the Desert

Chapter 3: The Price of Travel

            Financing a Voyage

            Paying a Personal Price

            Terminus

Chapter 4: Autopsy of a Gaze

            The Eye of the Popeyed Man

            A Geographer in His Study

            The Experience of the Voyage

            A Clinical Look at Muslim Verismo

            Muqaddasi, Strabo, and Greek Science

Chapter 5: Attaining God

            The Theory of the Errant Life

            Topographical Writing

            Sufism as a Crossing of the Desert

            The Voyage to Syria

            Entering into the Desert

            Society and Its Obverse

Chapter 6: Going to the Borderlands

            The Ulemas and Jihad

            An Ideology of Combat

            Jihad and Hagiography

Chapter 7: Writing the Voyage

            Narrating an Absence

            The Extraordinary in the Voyage

            The Travel Letter

            An Art of Travel

            A Return to the Travel Narrative

Conclusion: The Journey to the End of the Same

Chronological List of Principal Travel Accounts

Bibliography

Al-Ghazali’s "Moderation in Belief"

Reading darwin in arabic, 1860-1950.

Marwa Elshakry

Knot of the Soul

Stefania Pandolfo

Mullahs on the Mainframe

Jonah Blank

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Travellers and Explorers from a Golden Age

By salim al-hassani - 1001 book chief editor published on: 1st august 2020.

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Since the Quran said every able-bodied person should make a pilgrimage, or hajj, to Mecca at least once in their lifetime, thousands travelled from the farthest reaches of the Islamic empire to Mecca, beginning in the seventh century. As they travelled, they made descriptions of the lands that they passed through. Some of the most famous include...

From left. Imaginary potrait of Zheng He, Ibn Battuta and Ibn Majid from 1001 Inventions’ ‘Journeys from a Golden Age’ ( Source )

Editorial Note:  Extracted from “1001 Inventions: The Enduring Legacy of Muslim Civilization Reference (4th Edition) Annotated”. First published in 1001 Inventions website – www.1001inventions.com/travellers

A 13th-century manuscript shows a caravan en route (Source: 1001 Inventions: The Enduring Legacy of Muslim Civilization, 3rd edition, page 247)

Al-Biruni, in the 11th century, wrote in his book the Dema r cation o f the L imits o f the A r eas that Islam has already penetrated from the Eastern countries of the earth to the Western.

It spread westward to Spain [Al-Andalus], eastward to the borderland of China and to the middle of India, southward to Abyssinia and the countries of Zanj Zanj [meaning black Africa from Mali to Kilwa (Tanzania) and Mauritania to Ghana], eastward to the Malay Archipelago and Java, and northward to the countries of the Turks and Slavs. Individual Muslim sultans ruled, and although there was conflict at times between them, an ordinary traveller could pass through the various regions.

Since the Quran said every able-bodied person should make a pilgrimage, or hajj, to Mecca at least once in their lifetime, thousands travelled from the farthest reaches of the Islamic empire to Mecca, beginning in the seventh century.

As they travelled, they made descriptions of the lands that they passed through. Some of the most famous include:

Al – Y a ’ q u bi , 8 th Century

A 13th-century miniature depicts an eastern Muslim boat from the classical Arabic work of literature Maqamat al- Hariri. The Arabic writing refers to a sea voyage, and mentions a verse from the Quran referring to Noah’s ark. This is usually used as a blessing: “In the name of Allah, the one who protects the ship’s sailing, seafaring and berthing.” (Source: 1001 Inventions: The Enduring Legacy of Muslim Civilization, 3rd edition, page 248)

He wrote the Book of C o untries, which he completed in 891 after a long time spent traveling, and he gave the names of towns and countries, their people, rulers, distances between cities and towns, taxes, topography, and water resources. [1]

Al-Ya’qubi wrote that “China is an immense country that can be reached by crossing seven seas; each of these with its own color, wind, fish, and breeze, which could not be found in another, the seventh of such, the Sea of Cankhay [which surrounds the Malay Archipelago] only sailable by a southern wind.”

Ab u Z ay d H a san, 9 th Century

He was a Muslim from Siraf, and told about boats that were sailing for China from Basra in Iraq and from Siraf on the Gulf. Chinese boats, much larger than Muslim boats, also visited Siraf, where they loaded merchandise bought from Basra. Abu Zayd also deals with the Khmer land and its vast population, a land in which indecency, he notes, is absent.

I bn W a h ha b, 9 th Century

He was a trader from Basra who sailed to China and described the Chinese capital as divided into two halves, separated by a long, wide road. On one side the emperor, his entourage, and administration resided, and on the other lived the merchants and ordinary people. Early in the day, officials and servants from the emperor’s side entered the other, bought goods, left, and did not mingle again. [2]

Al – Muq a d da s i, ( ca 9 45 – 100 0 )

He was a geographer who set off from his home in Jerusalem many centuries before Ibn Battuta. He also visited nearly every part of the Muslim world and wrote a book called Best Divisions for K n o wle dg e of the Regions , completed around 985. [3]

One of the accurate drawing based on personal observation is the sketch of the famous Lighthouse of Alexandria by the Andalusian traveller, Abu Hamid Al-Gharnati . He visited Alexandria first in 1110 and again in 1117. ( Source )

I bn Khur r adadh bih, 10 th Century

He wrote the Book of Roads an d P r o vinces , which gave a description of the main trade routes of the Muslim world, referring to China, Korea, and Japan, and describing the southern Asian coast as far as the Brahmaputra River, the Andaman Islands, Malaya, and Java. [4]  Ibn Khurradadhabih died in 912.

Ibn Fadlan, 10 th Century

Ibn Fadlan was an Arab chronicler, and in 921 the caliph of Baghdad sent him with a diplomatic mission to the king of the Bulgars of the Middle Volga. He wrote an account of his journey, and this was called R i s alah . Like Ibn Battuta’s R ihla , the R i s alah is of great value because it describes the places and people of northern Europe, in particular a people called the Rus from Sweden. [5]

Yaqut a l- H a m a wi, 13 th C entur y

He was a geographer who wrote the Dictionary o f C o untries about countries, regions, towns, and cities that he visited, all in alphabetical order, giving their exact location, and describing monuments, resources, history, population, and leading figures. [6]

Z ak ar i y a ’ i b n Mu h am ma d a l- Q a z wini, 13 th C entur y

He left accounts of the marvellous creatures that thrive in the China Sea, notably very large fish (possibly whales), giant tortoises, and monstrous snakes, which land on the shores to swallow whole buffaloes and elephants. [7]

I bn S a’id a l- Ma ghr i bi, 13 th C entur y

He gave the latitude and longitude of each place he visited, and wrote much on the Indian Ocean islands and Indian coastal towns and cities.

Al-Di ma s h qi , A   14 th   C entur y

He gives very detailed accounts of the island of Al-Qumr, also called Malay Island or Malay Archipelago. He says there are many towns and cities; rich, dense forests with huge, tall trees; and white elephants. Also there lives the giant bird called the Rukh , a bird whose eggs are like cupolas. The Rukh is featured in a story about some sailors breaking and eating the contents of its egg; the giant bird chased after them on the sea, carrying huge rocks, which it hurled at them relentlessly. The sailors only escaped with their lives under the cover of night. [8]

This story, like other accounts by travellers, formed the basis of many of the tales that enrich Islamic literature, such as The A dventures of S inbad the S ailor and The Th o u s and and One Nights . The richness of these thousand-year-old accounts has inspired many writers and filmmakers.

Ibn Battuta, 14 th Century

Imaginary Painting of Ibn Battuta

Ibn Battuta was only 21 on June 13, 1325, when he set out alone on his donkey at the beginning of a 3,000-mile overland journey to Mecca from Tangier in Morocco. He left his family, friends, and hometown, and would not see them again for 29 years. Some he never saw, because the plague reached them before he returned. He journeyed by walking, riding, and sailing more than 75,000 miles, through more than 40 modern countries.. [9]

His accounts have placed the medieval world before us, so we know that gold traveled from south of the African Sahara into Egypt and Syria; pilgrims continuously flowed to and from Mecca; shells from the Maldives went to West Africa; pottery and paper money came west from China. Ibn Battuta also flowed along with the wool and the wax, gold and melons, ivory and silk, sheikhs and sultans, wise men and fellow pilgrims. [10]  He worked as a qadi , a judge, for sultans and emperors, his journey a grand tour, mixing prayer, business, adventure, and the pursuit of knowledge. He returned to his native city three decades later and recounted stories of distant, exotic lands. [11]  The sultan of Fez (Fes), Abu ’Inan, asked him to write down his experiences in a Rihla , a travel book, and with a royal scribe, Ibn Juzayy, he completed the task in two years. His account of medieval Mali in West Africa is the only record we have of it today. [12]

The Traveling Man: the Journey of Ibn Battuta, 1325-1354 by James Rumford (Houghton Mifflin, 2001). ( Source )

Other travellers from the ninth and tenth centuries include Ibn al-Faqih, who compares the customs, food diets, codes of dress, rituals, and also some of the flora and fauna of China and India. [13]  Ibn Rustah focuses on a Khmer king, surrounded by 80 judges, and his ferocious treatment of his subjects while indulging himself in drinking alcohol and wine, but also his kind and generous treatment of the Muslim. [14]  Abu al-Faraj dwells on India and its people, customs, and religious observations. He also talks of China, saying it has 300 cities, and that whoever travels in China has to register his name, the date of his journey, his genealogy, his description, age, what he carries with him, and his attendants. Such a register is kept until the journey is safely completed. The reasoning behind this was a fear that something might harm the traveller and thereby bring shame to the ruler.

An artist’s rendering shows Ibn Battuta dictating his Rihla, passing through a dangerous gorge, and walking with his camel.  (Source: 1001 Inventions: The Enduring Legacy of Muslim Civilization, 3rd edition, page 250)

Get the full story from 1001 Inventions: The Enduring Legacy of Muslim Civilization Reference (4 th   Edition) Annotated. www.amazon.co.uk/1001-Inventions-Civilization-Reference-Annotated-ebook/dp/B0775TFKVY/  

[1]  The Kitab al-buldan appears in Bibliotheca ceocraphorum arabicorum Vll, M. J. de Goeje, ed. (1892); ed and trans into French by G. Wiet, Les Pays (1937). [2]  Carra de Vaux, Les Penseurs, op. cit., 57-58. [3]   Al Muqadassi, op. cit. [4]  S. M. Z. Alavi, Arabic Geography, op. cit., 27. [5]  On Muslim accounts of Scandinavia, see Harris Birkeland, Nordens hidstorie I middelalderen etter arabiskenkilder, Norske Videnskaps-Akademi i Oslo, Skrifter, Hist.-Filos. Klasse, 2 Scriffer, 1954, 2 (1954). [6]  Ibn Abd Allah al-Hamawi Yaqut, Jacut’s Geographisches Worterbuch, F. Wustenfeld, ed., 6 Vols. (Leipzig, 1866-70). -C. Bouamrane and L. Gardet, Panorama de la Pensee Islamique (Paris: Sindbad, 1984), 260. [7]   Ibid, 302-04. [8]  The work was edited by A. F. Mehren, Quarto (St. Petersburg, 1866), 375 pages. – G. Sarton, Introduction, op. cit., Vol. 3, 800. – G. Ferrand, Relations de Voyages, 363-93. [9]  Ibn Battuta, Voyages d’Ibn Battuta, Arabic text accompanied by French trans. by C. Defremery and B. R. Sanguinetti, preface and notes by Vincent Monteil, I-IV (Paris, 1968, reprint of the 1854 ed.). [10]   Ibn Battuta, Travels in Asia and Africa, trans. and selected by H. A. R. Gibb (London: Routledge, 1929). [11]   F. Rosenthal, Ibn Battuta, Dictionary of Scientific Biography, op. cit., Vol. 1, 517. – R. B. Winder, Ibn Battuta, in The Genius of Arab Civilisation, J. R. Hayes, ed., op. cit., 210. [12]   Ibn Battuta, Travels in Asia and Africa, Gibb, op cit. [13]   Ibn al-Faqih al-Hamadhani, auctore, Kitab al-buldan, M. J. De Goeje, ed., Bibliotheca geographorum arabicorum, 5 (Leiden, 1885). [14]   G. Sarton, Introduction, op. cit., Vol. 1, 635. – G. Ferrand, Relations de Voyages, op. cit., 54-66.

Al-Ǧāḥiẓ/Jahiz, Kitāb al-ḥayawān (Book of the animals), Syria, 15th C. Milan, Biblioteca Ambrosiana, Ms. arab. B 54, f. 36 (Source)

Cem Nizamoglu

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Is it safe to travel to France? The latest advice

T he French government has raised its terror alert to the highest possible level, “emergency”, following the terror attack in Moscow that left more than 135 people dead.

French prime minister Gabriel Attal said the decision was taken “in light of the Islamic State’s claiming responsibility for the [Moscow] attack and the threats weighing on our country”.

France’s terror threat system has three levels. The highest level is announced if there is a terrorist attack in France or overseas, or if an attack on French soil is considered to be imminent.

France was already on high alert for potential terrorist attacks, with the Paris Olympics and Paralympics due to take place in the capital this summer.

The updated terror alert comes just days before the UK Easter school holidays, when thousands of British holidaymakers will travel across the Channel for a getaway.

What is the Foreign Office advice for France?

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) France advice, which was last updated on February 20, reads: “There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. You should remain vigilant at all times.”

“Methods of attack have included knife attacks, shootings, bombings and vehicle attacks. Be vigilant in public places and follow the advice of local French authorities,” the FCDO adds.

The FCDO lists shopping centres, entertainment establishments, cultural events, public transport and places of worship as settings where “indiscriminate” terrorism attacks could take place.

Check the France FCDO page for the latest advice.

What happened in the Moscow terror attack?

On Friday, terrorists carried out an attack at the Crocus City Hall on the outskirts of Moscow, killing at least 137 and injuring 140.

Four men, all of whom are citizens of Tajikistan, have been formally charged with committing a group terrorist attack. The attack has been claimed by the Afghanistan-based Islamic State Khorasan Province (IS-K) group.

On March 7, the United States warned its citizens in Russia that extremists had “imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow” and specifically mentioned concert venues. It advised Americans to avoid large gatherings.

What should I do if I get caught up in a terrorist attack?

Britain’s counter-terrorism police gives advice on what to do in the event of an emergency . This includes to run to a place of safety: “This is better than trying to surrender or negotiate.” To hide: “It is better to hide than confront. Barricade yourself in, turn your phone to silent and use only when it is safe to do so.” And to tell: “Make sure you know the local emergency numbers in the country you are travelling to. For all EU countries call 112.”

Have there been recent terrorist attacks in France?

There have been a number of terrorist attacks in France over the past decade. In January 2015, eight cartoonists, two guests and two police officers were murdered at the offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo . The gunmen identified as belonging to al-Qaeda.

In November that year, in the deadliest terrorist attack in French history, 131 people were killed and 413 were injured in a series of shooting and grenade attacks at the Bataclan music venue, near the Stade de France and at several restaurants and bars across Paris. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks.

In July 2016, 86 people were killed and 434 injured in Nice after a 19-tonne cargo truck was driven into crowds during Bastille Day celebrations on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice. Again Islamic State claimed responsibility.

What if I want to cancel my trip to France?

If you have booked a package holiday to France and want to cancel your trip for any reason, contact your tour operator and they might offer flexibility with alternative dates. 

But bear in mind that, because the Foreign Office has not issued any advice against travel to France, there is no guarantee that you will receive a refund, nor will you be able to claim money back with your travel insurance company.

If you have booked flights and accommodation independently, and wish to cancel your holiday, contact your travel providers as soon as possible to see if you can rearrange your plans. Note, however, that given the circumstances, it is unlikely you will receive a full refund.

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The Islamic position on 'time travel'

What does the Islam say about time-travel?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger. If you mean by "time travel" moving between different points in time forward or backward, meaning physically visiting the past or the future, then this is impossible. Allaah, The Exalted, says (what means): • { And if I knew the unseen, I could have acquired much wealth, and no harm would have touched me. } [Quran 7:188] • { And no soul perceives what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul perceives in what land it will die. Indeed, Allaah is Knowing and Acquainted. } [Quran 31:34] Only Allaah, The Exalted, knows the Unseen; if it were possible to travel to the future and know what would happen, this (the fact that only Allaah knows the Unseen) would be falsified. Allaah, The Exalted, says (what means): { And with Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them except Him. } [Quran 6:59] And He says (what means): { Say, "None in the heavens and earth knows the unseen except Allaah. } [Quran 27:65] We would like to point out that "time" is nothing more than a mathematical function of two variables; it cannot be separated or abstracted so that it would be possible to travel through it. However, certain "periods of time" can be (relatively) longer or shorter compared to others. For instance, the time the Dajjaal will spend on earth was described by the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, as follows: " forty days: one like a year, one like a month, one like a week, and the rest of his days like yours. " [Muslim] Another example is in the Hadeeth about Yoosha‘ ibn Noon ( Joshua the son of Nun ) conquering Jerusalem: " He reached that town at the time of the ‘Asr prayer, so he said to the sun, 'O sun! You are bound by the command (of Allaah) and so am I! O Allaah, stop it (i.e. the sun) from setting for a while.' It was stopped until Allaah made him victorious. " [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] However, if you mean merely imagining that one is living in the past and envisioning people's lives then or imagining the future and envisioning the potential scientific and intellectual advancement, then there is nothing wrong with that. Many of the matters that were fantasies in the past have become realities. Allaah Knows best.

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Home » Hanafi Fiqh » DarulIftaBirmingham » Can a woman travel abroad without a Mahram, but with a group of trustworthy women

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Can a woman travel abroad without a Mahram, but with a group of trustworthy women

Answered by  Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Question:

Can a woman travel abroad without a Mahram, but with a group of trustworthy women

Answer:

The reason why Islam takes these measures is to protect women from any sort of harm e.g. physical attacks from immoral people or thieves who might rob them where they will be defenceless to stop them.

When it is unlawful for women to travel then how would she be allowed to travel to another country for studying, which is not compulsory on her?

In a nutshell, it will be necessary for you not to travel without a Mahram even though you are travelling with other women, as the ahadith above are clear that a woman is not allowed to travel without a Mahram even though she is being accompanied by trustworthy women.

The only solution you have left is that one of your Mahram accompanies you to the place of study. 

Only Allah Knows Best

Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham.

This answer was collected from DarulIftaBirmingham.co.uk , which is run under the supervision of Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah from the United Kingdom.

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When Is a Person Considered a Traveler Who Can Shorten Their Prayers?

Answered by Sidi Tabraze Azam

Question: As-salamu Alaykum. I pray you’re in the best of health!

I’m a student at Uni and my question is regarding shortening prayers. First of all what is the distance that causes one to shorten his prayers? (I’m not certain of the ‘exact’ figure according to the Hanafi Madhab)

Also do I fall into the category of a traveller if I stay at university for less than a week (considering I’m renting a flat at Uni) and go home weekly (provided the distance causes me to be a traveller)?

Or will I be a traveller the few days I go home and not a traveller at the University accommodation?

I just need to clarify this because I was told (by someone who talked to a scholar) that I’m a traveller every time I’m at uni as I stay for less than 15 days and fulfill the distance, so I’ve been praying Qasr. However someone else said that I’m a traveller when I travel home because I’m spending the majority of my time at University(though less than a week at a time, the sum total is greater than the time I spend at home). I pray you can clarify these points

JazaakAllahu Khair! Ma’asalam

Answer : Wa alaikum assalaam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh Sidi,

I hope you are in the best of health and spirits insha’Allah.

[1] According to the Hanafi school, the traveling distance is: 48 miles.

[2] If one stays at university for less than 15 days and one is beyond the traveling distance, one would legally be considered a traveler and would shorten one’s prayers.

[3] When one goes “home”, one is returning to one’s long-term/permanent residence; therefore it remains one’s “home” (watan al-asli) and one does not shorten. [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah/Ibn Abidin, Radd ul-Muhtar]

And Allah knows best.

Related Answers:

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A Traveler Praying Behind a Resident Imam: Do I Shorten My Prayers?

wassalaam, Tabraze Azam

Checked and Approved by Faraz Rabbani

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