[UriDepkeeks]

I posted previously asking about cheap and halal holidays. Here are my reasons:

I have four children who are home educated. They are with me most of the time. I don't allow them to watch tv, play computer games (except a few chosen educational games), mix with all and sundry etc. I am trying to instil in them a love of the deen so besides getting them to pray salat and Qur'an I try to make them enjoy their deen by allowing certain things. For example eating out in one particular restaurant (hmc of course). Now many ulema understandably say it's better not to eat out, to prepare food yourself etc. But this is one outlet for my family - we go together as a family, we utilize a private family room and the masjid is closeby for salat. Growing up I was allowed to go to Pizza Hut with friends and this is not something we are going to allow our children. But going out together as a family once in a while is fine.

We haven't taken the children anywhere for about 6 years. Prior to that we did an Umrah Malaysia combo which worked out well. It's expensive for us now and I'm quite keen on trying out Brother Colonel's suggestion of going for a cheap trip within the UK. Places like the Lake District are woody so no beach as such in sight but yes we have been to a beach in Wales when we got married and there was not a soul in sight.

I am against going to any place that has men and women showing their awra. A few years ago my husband and I went to Damascus for a few days and standing up there on Jabal Qasiyoun listening to the adhaans all over the city echoing one after another is a memory that's going to stay with me. Likewise I'd love to take the children when they are older to Istanbul.

I don't want to waste money, that's for sure. Life is temporary and why waste precious time and money like that. But at the same time I need to give my children a halal positive outlet so that they don't in turn begin to resent the deen. They are growing up in a technological advanced society as never seen before. Yes the beloved Prophet saw didn't travel in the same way, but it also wasn't done as it is done now. Look at how fast you can get to from one place to another. Our world is becoming one big melting pot, we are facing difficult challenges and higher levels of fitnah everyday.

I do wish to go for Umrah and would feel guilty spending similar amounts of money on a regular holiday. A few years ago I researched into self catering apartments with swimming pools in Jeddah and found one or two. It was my intention then to go for Umrah and stop off a few days in Jeddah. But like Sis Sudoku said, one can only go when invited by Almighty Allah. Please make duah for me and my family to visit the house of Allah...

I wonder if those of you who completely disagree with the concept of holidays have children? Ours are kept entertained by local trips mashaallah but if you wanted to analyse these, then even these might not be deemed as 'halal' as living in a non muslim country you hear a bit of music here and there and women not covered properly....

May Allah protect us and our children from the fitnahs that are practiced so openly ameen