Traveling to places which are cursed?

Brief Comments of Shaikh Ibn Baaz on Saheeh al-Bukhaaree #14

Traveling to places which are cursed?

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

Imaam al-Bukhaaree رحمه الله said:

Book of Prayer: Chapter: Praying at places where the earth had sunken

And it is mentioned that `Alee رضي الله عنه disliked praying in Babylonia where it was sunk (as a punishment).

Narrated `Abdullaah bin `Umar رضي الله عنهما: Allaah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Do not enter (the places) of these people where Allaah's punishment had fallen unless you do so weeping. If you do not weep, do not enter (the places of these people) because Allaah's curse and punishment which fell upon them may fall upon you.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (433, 3380, 3381) and Saheeh Muslim (5296, 5297)]

Shaikh Ibn Baaz رحمه الله:

The Shaikh رحمه الله was asked about travelling to “Madaa’in al-Saaleh”*?

He replied: If it (the traveling) is for seeking as a reminder, then there is no problem with it.



* But if it done for sightseeing (tourism) and enjoyment; then it is not allowed.

Reference:

 الحلل الإبرزية من التعليقات البازية على صحيح البخاري

* Madaa’in al-Saaleh is the place which is 400 km north of al-Madeenah. The people of Thamood were destroyed as Allaah تعالى says:

{Verily, We sent against them a single Saihah (torment – awful cry), and they became like the stubble of a fold-builder} [Surah al-Qamar (54): 31]

* The phrase “Travel through the earth and see” has been repeated in the Qur’aan many times. For example Allaah تعالى says:

{Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): “Travel in the land and see what was the end of those who rejected truth.”} [Surah al-An`aam (6): 11]

And also:

{Do they not travel in the land, and see what was the end of those before them? They were superior to them in strength, and they tilled the earth and populated it in greater numbers than these (pagans of Makkah) have done, and there came to them their Messengers with clear proofs. Surely, Allaah wronged them not, but they used to wrong themselves. Then evil was the end of those who did evil, because they denied the Aayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, Messengers, etc.) of Allaah and made a mockery of them} [Surah al-Room (30): 9-10]

* Also places like Petra (Jordan), the Pyramids (Egypt), the Dead Sea, and other such places, where the punishment of Allaah had come (some of them are mentioned in Surah al-Qamar) or where things other than Allaah were worshiped, should not be visited, except while weeping and fearing that Allaah’s curse and punishment may befall them while they are in those places. But unfortunately, such places have become tourist spots, where even the Muslims go for amusement and tourism.