Praise be to Allah. May peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, Companions, and those who follow his guidance!
On the occasion of the Spring vacation, I advise all my students and all Muslims to fear Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) as He should be feared at all times and to spend their times in things pleasant to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) that draw them closer to Him and keep away from things that incur His anger. This includes spending time in educational lectures, studying and reading useful books. All this benefits a person in this world and in the Hereafter and saves their time from being wasted. I would also like to warn my students against traveling to non-Muslim countries, because it harms their `Aqidah (creed) and morals. There is no doubt that traveling to non-Muslim countries leads to great evil, and few people are able to keep their `Aqidah and morals safe abroad unless they are scholars who have deep insight and Istiqamah (integrity), and they travel abroad to practice Da`wah (calling to Islam); guide people to goodness, Tawhid (monotheism) and obedience to Allah. This is a different matter and Da`wah is needed everywhere and at all times.
However, if the case is different, a person should beware of traveling to non-Muslim, corrupt, misleading countries, as it entails great danger to their `Aqidah and morals. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, I disown any Muslim who stays among Mushriks (polytheists). It is narrated that he (peace be upon him) said, Anyone who associates with a Mushrik and lives with them is like them. He (peace be upon him) also said, Allah does not accept any deeds from a Mushrik after having embraced Islam until they separates themselves from other Mushriks.
According to the scholars, these Hadiths and others revolving the same meaning refer to those who do not have knowledge, deep insight, and Istiqamah so that they can be safe from committing prohibited things, and so that they can practice Da`wah and guide people to the means of safety, according to Allah's saying, Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭ ﺳﻠﻢ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islâm) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Revelation and the Qur'ân) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Allah (Glorified be He) also says, Say (O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭ ﺳﻠﻢ): "This is my way; I invite unto Allâh (i.e. to the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism) with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me (also must invite others to Allâh i.e. to the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism with sure knowledge). They are also keen on the reward promised by Allah to the Du`ah (callers to Islam), and the goodness it results in, according to Allah's saying, And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allâh (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands firm (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allâh's (Islâmic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims." When the Prophet (peace be upon him) sent `Aly (may Allah be pleased with him) to Khaybar, he said to him, By Allah, if Allah guides aright even one man through you, that is better for you than to possess the most valuable of the camels. He (peace be upon him) also said, One who guides to something good has a reward similar to that of its doer.
Du`ah who have understood religion and practiced Da`wah are safe in shaa'-Allah (if Allah wills). There is no harm in their traveling to the lands of non-Muslims to call them to Islam, guide them to goodness and clarify to them what they were originally created for. However, laypeople and students who do not have thorough understanding of religion and have not graduated in specialized religious faculties where people learn the requirements of practicing Da`wah, those people will be in great danger if they travel to non-Muslim countries. My advice is for them and for anyone other than the previously mentioned scholars and believers. I advise them not to travel to non-Muslim countries and beware of this. They should rather make use of their vacation in strengthening their Iman (Faith) and increasing their knowledge, by
spending time in studying at home in harmless fields, so that this vacation is a good opportunity for acquiring more knowledge, practicing more Da`wah and safety from wasting their precious time. May Allah grant everyone success and guidance! May Allah protect us and all Muslims from delusive temptations and insinuations of Satan! May Allah guide everyone to what benefits them regarding their hearts, their deeds, and their end! May Allah's peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions!