What is the Sharia ruling on studying tourism and its administrative affairs?
In Islamic law, the means are judged by their ends. While tourism may offer some benefits, the sins associated with it far outweigh its advantages. Allah has forbidden intoxicants and gambling despite their minor benefits, due to the great sin they entail. Allah says: "They ask you about intoxicants and gambling. Say, 'In them is great sin and [yet, some] benefits for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit.'" Then He revealed: "O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing to] stone altars for idols, and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid them that you may be successful." The jurisprudential principle states: "Ward off harm takes precedence over attaining benefit." It is well-known that the field of tourism is rife with disobedience, immorality, excessive adornment (tabarruj), and immodesty (sufoor). There is hardly any tourism today, in the current understanding of the term, that is free from religious prohibitions. At the very least, it involves aiding in sin and aggression, which is forbidden in His saying, the Almighty: "And do not cooperate in sin and aggression." Therefore, this door must be closed. Accordingly, it is not permissible to study tourism or work in it. A Muslim should choose fields of specialization that benefit them in this world and the Hereafter, fields that are lawful and free from doubt.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/66946