Travel and Spirituality
by Oumaima L’grindi
Traveling is like acquiring a degree of knowledge. The more you travel, the more knowledge you gain about the world. It is reported in a Hadith that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said “if anyone travels on a road in search of knowledge, Allah swt will cause him to travel on one of the roads of paradise” (1631). We are taught in Islam to be knowledgeable and gain knowledge whenever you can, so if we are using travel as a means to do it, then so be it! If you travel without absorbing your surroundings, it would be a meaningless trip, so be thoughtful when planning a trip, about what you can gain from it. How to gain the most, spiritually, from your trip?
Do your research Don’t turn up to a city aimlessly, vast amounts of countries have a rich Islamic history waiting for you to unravel. In some countries you will also find tours dedicated to Islamic history, I recently went on one in Istanbul and it was very informative. Don’t forget the internet is your friend; use all your sources!
Do some charity If you’re on holiday for a week or so, pick one day or even half a day, volunteer with a local charity. If you want to travel and help people, try a volunteering program, there are many programs, for various countries from Peru to India. In these programs, you can help out during the weekdays, whether it is teaching English or helping out at a special needs school, and the weekends are free for you to use, therefore allowing you to explore the city.
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