A message to the vacationer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Blessed
brother
This message is written by the
ink of love, I poured my soul in every word wishing that it will
reach the bottom of your heart. I implore you to accompany me with
your mind, the mind which prevents you from committing ugly things,
which keeps you away from tensions and useless piffle. Consider my
words objectively and fairly, with no bias to your desires, whims
or lusts.
Blessed
brother
My concern with you is what
you are thinking about right now: searching for a suitable place
for you and your family, you may even have prepared everything!
Yes, it is recreation and entertainment. First of all I do not
blame you for thinking about that, it is human nature, and it is
our innate nature which Allah has created. It would be fighting
reality to blame you that you take your family in a trip to the
wilderness or to a picnic.
When Hanzalah, may Allah be
pleased with him, met Abu Bakr he said to him: "Hanzalah is a
hypocrite", Abu Bakr wondered: "Glorified is Allah above all, what
are you saying?", he answered: "when we are with the Prophet, peace
be upon him, he reminds us with paradise as if we can see it with
our own eyes, when we leave him we attend to our spouses, children
and farms and we forget a lot". Abu Bakr said: "the same happens
with me". Hanzalah and Abu Bakr set off till they entered to the
Prophet, peace be upon him, Hanzalah said: "O Messenger of Allah!
Hanzalah is a hypocrite", the Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
"what is that?", Hanzalah answered: " O Messenger of Allah when we
are with you, you remind us with paradise and hell as if we can see
them with our own eyes, when we leave you we attend to our spouses,
children and farms and we forget a lot", the Prophet, peace be upon
him, said: "by Allah, if you continue the way you are with me when
we mention Allah, angles would shake your hands on your beds and
when on roads, but Hanzalah an hour and an hour, he repeated it
three times". [Narrated
by Muslim]
‹‹لقيني أبو بكر فقال:
كيف أنت ؟ يا حنظلة ! قال قلت : نافق حنظلة . قال : سبحان الله ! ما
تقول ؟ قال قلت : نكون عند رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم . يذكرنا
بالنار والجنة . حتى كأنا رأي عين . فإذا خرجنا من عند رسول الله صلى
الله عليه وسلم ، عافسنا الأزواج والأولاد والضيعات . فنسينا كثيرا .
قال أبو بكر : فوالله ! إنا لنلقى مثل هذا . فانطلقت أنا وأبو بكر ،
حتى دخلنا على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم . قلت : نافق حنظلة . يا
رسول الله ! فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم " وما ذاك ؟ " قلت :
يا رسول الله ! نكون عندك . تذكرنا بالنار والجنة . حتى كأنا رأي عين
. فإذا خرجنا من عندك ، عافسنا الأزواج والأولاد والضيعات . نسينا
كثيرا . فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم " والذي نفسي بيده ! إن لو
تدومون على ما تكونون عندي ، وفي الذكر ، لصافحتكم الملائكة على فرشكم
وفي طرقكم . ولكن ، يا حنظلة ! ساعة وساعة " ثلاث مرات .››[رواه مسلم]
So, recreation is important,
burdens must be alleviated, as the Prophet, peace be upon him,
said: "an hour and an hour".
Here is where the human whims
and desires interfere in understanding the words of the Prophet,
peace be upon him: "an hour and an hour". Ali ibn Abi-Talib, may Allah be pleased with
him, said: "I fear that you follow two things: whims and
high expectations: following whims makes you deviate from
righteousness, and high expectations make you forget the Hereafter
".
An hour and an hour, yes an
hour and an hour but, does this mean it is an hour for worship and
an hour for disobedience? Is it an hour for Allah and an hour for
you where you can do whatever you wish or crave for? This concept
cannot be tolerated by the words of the Prophet, peace be upon him,
or to imagine how the Prophet, peace be upon him, may encourage
disobeying Allah or violate His set limits. The Prophet, peace be
upon him, would never get angry for himself, but only for the sake
of Allah, he would turn red with rage whenever Allah's limits were
violated. How could he then authorize sins? And this is his dogma
and belief! Oh God this is great slander. The true concept
perceived from his words "an hour and an hour" is that an hour to
worship Allah and an hour for lawful recreation. This is the spirit
of Shari'a (laws of Allah): ": But seek, through that which Allah
has given you, the home of the Hereafter; and [yet], do not forget
your share of the world. And do good as Allah has done good to you.
And desire not corruption in the land. Indeed, Allah does not like
corrupters" [Al-Qasas 28:77]
{وَابْتَغِ
فِيمَا آتَاكَ اللَّهُ الدَّارَ الْآخِرَةَ وَلَا تَنسَ نَصِيبَكَ
مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَأَحْسِن كَمَا أَحْسَنَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْكَ وَلَا
تَبْغِ الْفَسَادَ فِي الْأَرْضِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ
الْمُفْسِدِينَ} [القصص: 77]
Transliteration:
Wa Abtaghi Fīmā 'Ātāka Allāhu
Ad-Dāra Al-'Ākhirata Wa Lā Tansa Naşībaka Mina Ad-Dunyā Wa 'Aĥsin
Kamā 'Aĥsana Allāhu 'Ilayka Wa Lā Tabghi Al-Fasāda Fī Al-'Arđi
'Inna Allāha Lā Yuĥibbu Al-Mufsidīna
Here is Allah commanding you
to use the wealth and blessings, He has bestowed on you, in His
obedience and to try to get close to the reward of the Hereafter by
good deeds, and "forget not your portion of lawful enjoyment in
this world" the things that Allah has allowed you to: food, drinks,
houses, marriage. What a great religion! What a perfect Shari'a! It
considered all aspects of life and gave all their
rights.
O dear
brother
Islam is not a stumbling block
against recreation and enjoyment as long as they abide by the rules
that guarantee your and your family's safety and wellbeing in both
homes: life and the Hereafter. But if, however, this has been
accompanied by excessive negligence to His laws, here comes the
warning and prevention, not to deprive you from enjoying
recreations. Nay, it is in order to keep you from the sins that
would surround you, lest you perish and become one of the
losers.
By Allah, how nice it is that
a Muslim remains in his country to enjoy its sightseeing! And he
completely disregards, unless for legitimate excuses, traveling to
the lands of impiety where vice is abundantly committed, as there
are a lot of religious texts preventing doing so.
How nice it would be if the
picnic is full of mentioning Allah and maintaining His
ordinances.
How beautiful to take lessons
from the picnic; you do not build castles or aspire to establish
important things, you are certain that there is a house in town to
return to. You should keep in mind that this life is like a picnic,
not permanent, there is an eternal home awaiting you: what have you
prepared for it?
If this picnic is taken in
that fresh air under the blue sky and lively colors; that make you
contemplate and reflect on the stars and spheres, which you may not
see in the cities, then you are from those described by Allah:
": Who remember Allah
while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give
thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying],
"Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You
[above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the
Fire." [Al-'Imran
3:191]
{الَّذِينَ
يَذْكُرُونَ اللّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىَ جُنُوبِهِمْ
وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا
خَلَقْتَ هَذا بَاطِلاً سُبْحَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ
النَّارِ}[ عمران: 191]
Transliteration:
Al-Ladhīna Yadhkurūna Allāha
Qiyāmāan Wa Qu`ūdāan Wa `Alá Junūbihim Wa Yatafakkarūna Fī Khalqi
As-Samāwāti Wa Al-'Arđi Rabbanā Mā Khalaqta Hādhā Bāţilāan
Subĥānaka Faqinā `Adhāba An-Nāri
What about taking along some
useful books and tapes to distribute among your friends or people
around you! What a beautiful trip that combines fun and propagate
to Allah and the promotion of virtue and the prevention of vice,
there is no contradiction in that. The most beautiful trip is where
you can find permissible humor and useful enjoyment.
By Allah what a wonderful man
who takes his family for innocent recreational activities, to
places free from the eyes of the peepers.
All of these are beautiful
images, but what stains them is the revolting and conscience
chiding scenes we see in some of the so-called family parks, where
women are loud, putting on make-up and taking off their veils… so
much that some women use children swings while strangers are
watching… has it reached this far? Has dignity vanished? Has ethics
been slaughtered?
Dear
brother:
I hope that you would not turn
your heart or ear on me, just answer me: can you enjoy yourself in
such gatherings? Can your wife be at ease while looking into
Allah's kingdom, where she is surrounded by people and other
families? How many young men are in these parks to stalk girls?
They are only interested in peeping! How many young men sitting in
their cars where music is too loud, can you prevent your ears or
your family's from hearing such sounds? And how many impermissible
scenes you will have to see like the unveiled women? If you could
lower your gaze from one woman can you lower it from the other or
the other? I speak in such a frank attitude because I know that you
truly appreciate the rituals of your religion and prioritize them
in your life. You have accepted Allah as your God and Muhammad,
peace be upon him, His Messenger. You would say that these places
have their positive aspects; I agree with you but keep in mind that
their negative aspects are more than their positive ones, so, harm
prevention is prioritized over bringing interests. You may not be
convinced saying: ''what unnecessary complications while religion
is so easy and facile". I would answer that you would not be
convinced unless you, God forbid, got stung, then regret will do no
good.
You may say that your family
pressurizes you, I answer with the words of Allah: "O you who have
believed, indeed, among your wives and your children are enemies to
you, so beware of them. But if you pardon and overlook and forgive
- then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." [Taghabun
64:14]
{يَا أَيُّهَا
الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ وَأَوْلَادِكُمْ عَدُوًّا
لَّكُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ وَإِن تَعْفُوا وَتَصْفَحُوا وَتَغْفِرُوا
فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ} [التغابن: 14]
Transliteration:
Yā 'Ayyuhā Al-Ladhīna 'Āmanū
'Inna Min 'Azwājikum Wa 'Awlādikum `Adūwāan Lakum Fāĥdharūhum Wa
'In Ta`fū Wa Taşfaĥū Wa Taghfirū Fa'inna Allāha Ghafūrun
Raĥīmun
Know that you are responsible
before Allah about your Maharem, they were shielded, so do not make
them unveiled before every eye.
Dear
brother
I know that you may think that
I have diagnosed the case, not offering any solutions, that I have
prevented you from picnicking in these mixed parks but did not
offer the alternative. Well, beware of the infamous terrible thing
that many Muslims do absent-mindedly; which is asking for
alternatives whenever they are prevented or denied something,
though it is our duty to say: We hear and we obey: "The only
statement of the [true] believers when they are called to Allah and
His Messenger to judge between them is that they say, "We hear and
we obey." And those are the successful." [An-Nur
24:51]
{إِنَّمَا
كَانَ قَوْلَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذَا دُعُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ
لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَن يَقُولُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا
وَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ}[النور: 51]
Transliteration:
'Innamā Kāna Qawla
Al-Mu'uminīna 'Idhā Du`ū 'Ilá Allāhi Wa Rasūlihi Liyaĥkuma Baynahum
'An Yaqūlū Sami`nā Wa 'Aţa`nā Wa 'Ūlā'ika Humu
Al-Mufliĥūna
This is how a true believer
reacts when hearing His commands and prohibitions, blind obedience;
therefore Allah addresses His believing slaves describing them with
the best characteristics they like: ": O you who have believed,
respond to Allah and to the Messenger when he calls you to that
which gives you life. And know that Allah intervenes between a man
and his heart and that to Him you will be gathered." [Al-Anfal
8:24]
{َا أَيُّهَا
الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ اسْتَجِيبُواْ لِلّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا
دَعَاكُم لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ وَاعْلَمُواْ أَنَّ اللّهَ يَحُولُ بَيْنَ
الْمَرْءِ وَقَلْبِهِ وَأَنَّهُ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ}[الأنفال: 24]
Transliteration:
Yā 'Ayyuhā Al-Ladhīna 'Āmanū
Astajībū Lillāhi Wa Lilrrasūli 'Idhā Da`ākum Limā Yuĥyīkum Wa
A`lamū 'Anna Allāha Yaĥūlu Bayna Al-Mar'i Wa Qalbihi Wa 'Annahu
'Ilayhi Tuĥsharūna
And that is how the companions
of the Prophet were, peace be upon him, responding without
hesitation to His commands. When the verses concerning the
prohibition of alcoholic drinks were revealed, a public crier
called in Medina: "alcoholic drinks have been prohibited", whoever
had a glass in his hands broke it immediately, whoever had a sip in
his mouth spit it, bottles had been shattered, the wine alley
closed, as if there has never existed drunkenness or alcoholic
drinks. Then, why whenever a prohibition is mentioned people would
immediately ask for an alternative? As if they would not stop
disobeying Allah unless alternatives are provided. Oh Lord of the
Ka'aba, this is a manifested loss. ": For those who have responded
to their Lord is the best [reward], but those who did not respond
to Him - if they had all that is in the earth entirely and the like
of it with it, they would [attempt to] ransom themselves thereby.
Those will have the worst account, and their refuge is Hell, and
wretched is the resting place" [Ar-Ra'd 13:18]
{لِلَّذِينَ
اسْتَجَابُواْ لِرَبِّهِمُ الْحُسْنَى وَالَّذِينَ لَمْ
يَسْتَجِيبُواْ لَهُ لَوْ أَنَّ لَهُم مَّا فِي الأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا
وَمِثْلَهُ مَعَهُ لاَفْتَدَوْاْ بِهِ أُوْلَئِكَ لَهُمْ سُوءُ
الْحِسَابِ وَمَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ وَبِئْسَ الْمِهَاد}[الرعد: 18]
Transliteration:
Lilladhīna Astajābū
Lirabbihimu Al-Ĥusná Wa Al-Ladhīna Lam Yastajībū Lahu Law 'Anna
Lahum Mā Fī Al-'Arđi Jamī`āan Wa Mithlahu Ma`ahu Lāftadaw Bihi
'Ūlā'ika Lahum Sū'u Al-Ĥisābi Wa Ma'wāhum Jahannamu Wa Bi'sa
Al-Mihādu
And "Respond to your Lord
before a Day comes from Allah of which there is no repelling. No
refuge will you have that day, nor for you will there be any
denial." [Ash-Shura 42:47]
{اسْتَجِيبُوا
لِرَبِّكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَ يَوْمٌ لَّا مَرَدَّ لَهُ مِنَ
اللَّهِ مَا لَكُم مِّن مَّلْجَأٍ يَوْمَئِذٍ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن
نَّكِير}[الشورى: 47]
Transliteration:
Astajībū Lirabbikum Min Qabli
'An Ya'tiya Yawmun Lā Maradda Lahu Mina Allāhi Mā Lakum Min
Malja'iin Yawma'idhin Wa Mā Lakum Min Nakīrin
This is the way Muslims should
raise their children till they grow old.
Anyway, let me
mention some alternatives, and as it is said: need is the mother of
invention:
First:
Private park: they gave vent
to many people where a man can take his family out; spend some
quality time together happily, peacefully and amiably.
Second:
Exploitation of public parks
when empty:
For example, after Fajr
prayer, one notices that people start their picnics around sunset
till the late hours of the night and then parks become empty, so a
man can contradict this habit, he can take his family whether to
the sea shore or the like places.
Third:
Go to the wilderness and
deserts and enjoy those places away from the eyes and the
harassment of people.
Fourth:
Go to the Holy House of Allah
(Ka'ba) to perform Umrah and stay close to the holy land, you can
also visit Al-Taif; a beautiful summer resort so that you and your
family can enjoy the fresh air, the green land and the magnificent
scenery. In doing so, you have combined two goals: obedience and
recreation.
Finally:
blessed brother when you
return home, you must recall the outcome of your trip; if good,
then praise Allah, if not, blame none but yourself.
O Allah, make us thankful to
you, always mentioning you, repentant to you, and make us of the
righteous, forgive us and forgive our parents and all the Muslims.
The blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family
and companions.
Written by: Mohammed ibn
Abdullah Alhabadan
Translated by
Wathakker.net website
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