By Abdullahi Jamaa
We are living in an era where people love making holidays and trips away from home. During festive seasons it is easy to fall into the devilish abyss of self-destruction through immoral indulgence, phantasmal splendours and profligacy.
It is acceptable to enjoy life and appreciate the blessing of our Lord. However, when such enjoyments contravenes the very fundamental teachings of Islam it becomes a spiritual burden and regret to live on with.
One has to control the appetite and passion for worldly satisfaction and restrain the soul from too much lust and luxury. Transgression is what is not allowed and obedience to the creator must always be the light of life that we yearn for.
There is no fearful pestilence about holidays but doing it the Islamic way makes you an honourable believer. Clearly mark your borderlines and be an ambassador of the pristine Islamic culture. Enjoy your holidays without injuring your religious allegiance.
A man once asked Aboo Al-Dardaa for advice, so he said:
“Remember Allah in good times and He will mention you in hard times. When you remember those who have passed away, consider yourself like one of them. And when you think of involving yourself in some worldly matter, consider first what it will lead to in the end.”
This holiday season, there is too much to care about regarding your spiritual hygiene where purity of faith matters. Our relationship with Allah will always make or break our life whether we are in our homes or away from them.
No escape from worship
In Islam every action must have a purpose that is beneficial to the believer and your moments of joy should never be a leeway for transgression against the boundless blessings of Allah.
it is prohibited to escape from one’s duties or to get away from one’s day-to-day responsibilities of worship. Your expensive happy moments should never be a means to book a cheap ticket to hell.
In his famous book ‘Al-Fawaid’ the legendary Muslim scholar Imam Ibn Qayyim (d.751AH) said:
“Man consists of the mind of an angel, the lust of an animal and the fancy of Satan. One of them will prevail. If you could overcome your fancy and lust, you will be in a rank that is higher than an angel. And if your fancy and lust beat you, you will be in a rank that is less than a dog”
The fundamental objectives of life in Islam is to fear Allah for there is a day of judgement when every soul will be put on the scale of justice and fairness.
Stick to your spiritual goals and meet your worship deadlines. Pray on time and schedule your day properly in order to maximise your occupied and free time. Turn every activity into Ibadah through a sincere intention.
One of the righteous predecessors said: “Never leave a good deed because of its difficulty, for the difficulty will eventually go but the deed will remain forever. Never do a bad deed because of its pleasure or enjoyment, for the pleasure or enjoyment will eventually go but the deed will remain forever.”
Muslim-friendly facilities
As a Muslim you have a religious obligation to enjoy your holiday within an environment free from haram and evil temptations. Choose Muslim-friendly facilities that will help you conserve your Islamic tradition.
Having halal food, an alcohol-free environment, separate male or female pools and the presence of a prayer room or a Masjid are some of the things you should be looking at.
Muslim-Friendly holiday facilities will remind you about your daily spiritual duties while giving you amble environment to meticulously enjoy life within the confines of Islamic regulations. It is all about preserving your dignity and remaining true to your religion.
Avoid environments that harbor Satan, that evoke lustful desires and negative human self-inclination to evil. Stay in a place that give you comfort at the same time conformity to your religion. Do not neglect your quality and standard of life as an honorable Muslim.
Avoid Israaf
Israaf (extravagance) is one of those types of sins that most of us often indulge in without really realizing its negative impact on our spiritual life. Some of us are extravagant in an attempt to achieve self-satisfaction and fleeting happiness in this world.
Allah says in the Magnificent Quran:
“….and eat and drink, but waste not in extravagance. Certainly He (Allah) likes not those who waste in extravagance.” Quran-7:31
Spending extravagantly will increase our attachment to materialistic pleasures and satisfactions of this world to the extent that it tampers with our faith.
Leading a spendthrift life is contrary to the basic principles of Islam. In fact, it means showing ungratefulness to Allah for the bounties He bestowed upon us.
The basic consideration for proper use of resources is moderation in consumption and spending that avoids both excesses of niggardliness and profligacy.
Israaf includes all unnecessary use of resources, whether it be using water while performing ablution, or leaving food in plate as you filled your plate more than your appetite.
Remember that an estimated 790 million people (11% of the world’s population) have no access to an improved water supply while Some 795 million people in the world do not have enough food to lead a healthy active life.
Islamic dress code
Islam gives guidance about all aspects of life including matters of public decency. A believer must uphold fundamental Islamic etiquettes because this is what defines you as a Muslim.
Holiday destinations are full of people wearing all sorts of dress codes. People tend to expose their awrah including uninformed or negligent Muslims. Exposing your body to outsiders is prohibited in Islam and thus becomes a grievous sin.
Most Muslims who wear a modest dress do not find it impractical in any way, they are able to easily continue with their holiday activities with much joy and fun. It is an act of worship to maintain the Islamic dress code at all times.
The great Muslim historian and biographer Imam Shams al-Din al-Dhahabi (d. 748 AH) records an incident in his book Siyar A’lam al-Nubala (The Lives of Noble Figures) where he wrote that one day Abu Bakr bin Maymun came and knocked on the door of Al-Humaydi, and assumed that he was given permission to enter. So, he entered, finding Al-Humaydi with his thigh exposed. Al-Humaydi began to cry, saying: “By Allah, you have just laid your eyes on something that nobody has seen since I have reached adulthood”
Enjoy your holidays and be a responsible Muslim…….
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