| Bismihi Ta`ala *A FEW TRAVELLING TIPS.* First of all, know that the most precious travelling is to travel in the path of Allah. That is to travel to uplift the Kalimah of Allah. During the last era, the tabligh jamaat travelling has achieved glory and acceptance to uplift the Kalimah of Allah throughout the world. The prophet Swalallahou `Alaihi Sallam said: ‘’The tourism of my ummah is to struggle in the path of Allah.’’(Abu Dawood) And it is also recommended to travel to anywhere having imaan and Taqwa in the heart, Islamic cloths on the body, miswaak in the hand and expressing the gentleness of sunnah character while sitting with(same gender), dealing with or expressing oneself to foreigners. In brief exposing the sunnah to others. It is also recommended to travel to see the greatness of Allah through sightseeing and ponder upon the creation of Allah Ta’ala. Allah Ta`ala says: قُلْ سِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَانْظُرُوا كَيْفَ بَدَأَ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ اللَّهُ يُنْشِئُ النَّشْأَةَ الْآخِرَةَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ Say: “Travel on earth and see how (Allah) originated creation, and then Allah will bring forth (resurrect) the creation of the Hereafter (i.e. resurrection after death). Verily, Allah is Able to do all things.’’(29:20)The dilemma of the ummah is that we are choosing mostly the third travel. And left out the first two. To equilibrate this, during your year, choose all 3 of them and be an ummah that is Wasat and on moderation of creed and practice.And yes, travelling is a cure for depression, sadness and worries. See the hadith 73 in Muntakhab Ahadith of Mowlana Yousuf Kandlewi in Chapter Da`wat and Tableegh. You can read our Traveller`s diary on http://islam-qna.org/Articles.asp?QID=419&LN= where you will learn that it is sunnah to choose Thursday for a journey and also that the shariah recognizes a traveller when one left the perimeter of his home town with the intention of travelling 77 kms or more. You would be a traveller until you return in your home town or when reached the point that you intend to spend 15 days or more there. In your hand bag, have a miswaak, an empty plastic bottle, tissues(lots of tissues), a musalla and a tasbeeh. If possible, wear a leather sock called moza after a full wouzu so that you may only do massah on feet for wouzus next 3 days. Massah cannot be done on normal wool or cotton socks.Read these sunnah duas while leaving family: http://islam-qna.org/Dua.asp?ID=164. When entering your vehicle, read : http://islam-qna.org/Dua.asp?ID=165 and http://islam-qna.org/Dua.asp?ID=166. And read Allahu Akbar 3 times on every gaining of altitude and Subhanallah 3 times on every loosing of altitude.(Bukhari) Optionnaly, Air travelling and land travelling are better than sea travelling. But sea travel is permissible and sea cruising discouraged.(references in Traveller`s Diary)Know that a traveller`s salaah is obligatorily 2 Fajr, 2 Zohr, 2 Assr, 3 Maghrib, 2 Esha and 3 Witr. Avoid sunnahs during plane, Airports, quick transits except 2 sunnah of Fajr. But when in hotel or at a relaxed station during your travelling, then recommended to read sunnah muakkadahs also. And they are read full normal. For salaah during a journey, you need Time of Salaah, Wouzu, Qiblah, Standing for salaah, 4 feet of dry place and no shame or hesitation. Once in a plane, know that you are under the supervision and authority of the plane crew. On a similitude analysis, the beloved prophet SAW wanted to do salaah inside the Ka`bah before leaving Makkah. Reported in Ibn Sa`d that Uthman bin Talha (not yet muslim) was responsible for the Ka`bah key and he prevented the prophet SAW from entering. The prophet SAW abide to his decision and did not revolt.As such, when salaah time comes, the traveller would stand up, do wouzu in the toilets and ask permission from the plane crew for a 3 minutes salaah by the available space. Without azaan and iqaamah, and reading alone and not with Jamaat, one would face qiblah standing and making sajdah on the dry plane floor or blanket or musalla. Sometimes we would be in front of people sitting, etc but still go forward and accomplish the obligation of salaah as it is farz and compulsory. The reason for a brief salaah is to enhance the facility and also the permission for other travellers. At times, the beloved prophet SAW read Falaq and Naas in Fajr also.(Baihaqi)If you are in business class, then the area in front of your seat is sufficient for salaah. More on details of salaah during travelling on islam-qna.org.If it happens that if you asked the crew member politely for 3 minutes free space and they refused then pray your salaah on your seat. No insistence, bad comments or remarks should be made towards them. But since Qiblah and Standing are core conditions for salaah, then you will need to repeat the salaah when on ground. Should be repeated 2 rakaats only, even if reached home.Written in Durre Mukhtaar that if difficulty comes from people on salaah masa-il, then one should redo salaah afterwards: ان نشأ الخوف بسبب وعيد عبد أعاد الصلاة وإلا لا لانه سماويالدر المختارNote: If because of physical incapacity one normally reads salaah on a chair, then one may face qiblah on a seat for salaah on the plane. Mufti Ayoob MackoojeeWe intend to elaborate more on some complex maslas of Travelling. If you wish not to miss them, then register to our WhatsApp network by sending REG to +23057921333. JazaakAllah Khairan for reading and Fi Amanillah. |