Learn from history and from your travels(DW#753 )
Say: Travel in the earth and see how He makes the first creation, then Allah creates the latter creation; surely Allah has power over all things.[Holy Quran 29:20]
This verse invites us to travel the earth in order to appreciate the cyclical nature of creation and to reflect on the mysteries of the Universe.
Traveling has been mentioned often in the Quran to broaden our horizons and to gain insight and wisdom.
In verse 46 of Suratul Hajj, for example, the Quran says: Have they not traveled over the land so that they may have hearts by which they may apply reason or ears by which they may hear? [Holy Quran 22:46]
In other words, traveling affords us the opportunity to expand our thinking and learn from interacting with other cultures and ways of thinking.
Very different from the culture of modern tourism which fuels consumerism and hedonism, traveling is encouraged in the faith to promote learning, inner growth and positive change.
Some reasons for travel that are mentioned in spiritual texts are:
To flee persecution and to safeguard faith. When one is persecuted for belief, race or ethnicity, Allah reminds us that we can move away. We do not have to stay in oppressive situations. The Quran says: O My servants who believe! surely My earth is vast, therefore Me alone should you serve [Holy Quran 29:56].
So the next time we get an opportunity to travel, let us use the opportunity to learn from history, to educate ourselves about the diversity of thought and people and to raise our consciousness.
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