Traveling to countries that permit sinning

24-1-2011 | IslamWeb

Question:

What is the ruling on applying for a passport for a woman to travel for pleasure to some countries that allow sinning and evil behavior? Is it permissible for (male) passport officers to look at her photograph? Some young husbands travel with their wives to these countries immediately after their marriage (honeymoon). What is your opinion?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alyhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

In principle, it is permissible for a wife to travel with her husband to a Muslim country, even for pleasure. Traveling requirements— for example, passports— are permissible, particularly if the necessity arises. The photograph in the passport is not clearly impermissible (since it is a need to issue the passport).

If a person wants to travel to a country that allows sinning and evil behavior, and if he firmly believes that he will see this evil without having the ability to change it, then it is not permissible for either a man or a woman to travel. 

And Allaah Knows best.