The differentiation made by Islam between Halaal and Haraam has laid down solid principles for us that we must adhere to, if we want to be a successful Muslim. But that does not mean, contrary to the Western belief, that Muslims cannot have fun!
Yes, there are prohibitions in regard to eatables like pork, alcohol etc. and there is a certain level of modesty to be maintained in dressing up, as well as, when indulging in worldly activities. Even though the world is full of un-Islamic norms, it still doesn’t mean we cannot have a way of our own to maneuver tourism and our plans in relation to that. Halaal tourism was introduced to help maintain an Islamic element in tourism so that all the un-Islamic customs can be eliminated from it for good. The efforts have resulted in wondrous outcomes like providing travel plans that include no immodest beaches, alcohol and un-Islamic accommodation customs and so on.
Since more than half of the world’s population is non-Muslim, some of the popular sites are so overwhelmingly painted in their culture that it is tough to follow the rules of modesty; the only option we are left with is to choose some other place. If you are a practicing Muslim you would certainly not want to take your family to a resort where bikini clad girls would roam around with beers in their hands. This is not something to be disappointed of; the advent of Halaal tourism has led to an extensive research into attractions that are not flooded with un-Islamic rituals, and where it is easier for Muslims to spend a good time without worrying about having to avoid certain things.
It was calculated that the people who travel to the Gulf spend nearly 12 billion US dollars annually, imagine what can be done with such a humongous amount of money if channeled towards Halaal tourism! The Muslim world in itself is filled with wonders that are applauded by people from all the faiths alike. If funds are duly allotted to this sector of tourism, these places can reach sublime popularity.
For instance, the Grand Mosque of Central Java, Indonesia presents to you one the most magnificent pieces of Islamic architecture –a place that accommodate purely Halaal tourism. Picture getting a chance to see Prophet Ayubs cave, the place where Prophet Ibrahim was thrown into fire and Harran the city of Prophet Suayb in one go! What other tourist attraction could be better than this? This and a long list of attractions that other cities of Turkey like Istanbul have to offer say enough about the lucrativeness of this. Of course, making it evident that Halaal tourism is in no way inferior to the rest! Other countries like Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia and a lot more have started to incorporate this genre of tourism into their system resulting in places like the National Mosque of Malaysia –on of the most visited attractions of the world, and the Ubudiah Mosque have become easy to reach for Muslim families who prefer the Islamic ways of traveling.
Halaal tourism is not just limited to the Holy sites of Muslim countries but extends to nonreligious destinations as well, making it a complete package for us. Be sure to look it up before you plan any tours this year as you might save yourself from the trouble of not finding a family spot that can understand your religious values –the fun stay the same though!
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