Can I Go on Holiday with Someone Who Sins?

Question

What is the ruling on tourism? For example, going to Hawaii for leisure purposes, if a haram element accompanies it, let’s say some family member does not pray on time or some family member doesn’t wear the hijab, does that make tourism for leisure purposes for me (who doesn’t do those acts) permissible?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

May Allah alleviate our difficulties and guide us to that which is pleasing to Him. Amin.

Purely recreational trips whose purpose is not disobedience are permissible. The permissibility thereof will not be affected by the coincidental sinning of others or oneself therein, and Allah knows best. [Keller, Reliance of the Traveler]

Ibn Hajar explains that recreation is a legally valid reason to undertake a journey because it relieves one from life’s pressures. [Haythami,  Tuhfat Al-Muhtaj]

Noble Traveling Intentions

While traveling for purely recreational purposes is permissible, we advise you to have multiple intentions and make your recreational trip noble. This noble intention could be to visit scholars, and the graves of the pious, acquire knowledge, observe the outcome of past disobedient nations or reflect on the unique creation of Allah.

In the above sense, traveling is encouraged in the Quran. Allah says: “Say: Travel in the land and see how (Allah) originated the creation, and then Allah will bring forth the creation of the Hereafter. Verily, Allah is Able to do all things.” [Quran, 29:20]

Accountability of Sins

We are not dutybound with the actions of others. If your travel companions happen to sin, they are responsible for their actions.

Allah says: “Say, Is it other than Allah I should desire as a lord while He is the Lord of all things? And every soul earns not (blame) except against itself, and no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return, and He will inform you concerning that over which you used to differ.” [Quran, 6:164]

However, we must advise, counsel, and admonish those who disobey Allah with wisdom and love but not become so complacent that we “accept” the sinning and become comfortable with it.

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whoever among you sees evil, let him change it with his hand. If he is unable to do so, then with his tongue. If he cannot do so, then with his heart, which is the weakest level of faith.” [Muslim]

I pray this is of benefit and that Allah guides us all.
[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar Shaykh Taha Karaan.

Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Mawlana Yusuf Karaan, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.

He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has served as the Director of the Discover Islam Centre and Al Jeem Foundation. For the last five years till present, he has served as the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.

Shaykh Irshaad has thirteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic online learning and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and has completed his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy living and fitness.