Osman Bakar, PhD Deputy CEO, IAIS Malaysia Emeritus Professor of Philosophy of Science, University of Malaya Presented at World Islamic Tourism Forum (WITF) 2011 co-organized by IAIS Malaysia and GITO Malaysia on 12-13 July 2011 At Seri Pacific Hotel, Kuala Lumpur www.iais.org.my 12 July 2011
Overview Introduction: Islamic Tourism and IAIS Malaysia What is Islamic Tourism? Beyond the Current Understanding Quranic-based Features of Islamic Tourism The Global Cultural Significance of Islamic Tourism Conclusion
Introduction : Islamic Tourism and IAIS Malaysia Tourism as a major aspect of contemporary human civilization The growing importance of the economic value of tourism to modern nation states: increasing source of national income; tourism generates businesses The growing importance of the cultural value of tourism to the world: cultures marginalized and on the verge of extinction as a result of modernization may survive thanks to tourism; cultural heritage as a must component of the tourism package But there is also the negative impact on both the natural and cultural environments: pollution of the natural environment and pollution of the cultural environment
Introduction : Islamic Tourism and IAIS Malaysia (continued ) In particular, the growing importance of tourism for the Muslims and Muslim countries The increase in the number of organizations, agencies, and outfits in the Muslim world dedicated to tourism The increase in the number of publications, including online, either fully or partially devoted to tourism, especially tourism in the Muslim world The speakers and moderators invited to WITF 2011 can testify to the steady growth of tourism in Muslim countries since they are associated in one way or another with the tourism industry
Introduction : Islamic Tourism and IAIS Malaysia (continued ) IAIS Malaysia as an organization dedicated to studies on Islam, the Muslims and the global community IAIS Malaysia is a think-tank and research institute dedicated to the study and research on national and global issues pertaining to Islam and the Muslim communities in their relations to the global community IAIS Malaysia s main agenda is civilizational renewal (al-tajdid al-hadari) which is comprehensive in nature. This explains IAIS Malaysia s interest in a wide range of issues pertaining to Islam and the Muslims By virtue of Islam s holistic view of human life and thought within a spiritual and religious framework and its civilizational approach to development and progress, it is desirable to present its perspectives on tourism which has become an important contemporary global culture
Introduction : Islamic Tourism and IAIS Malaysia (continued ) In light of the above three facts IAIS Malaysia is interested in the issue of Islamic tourism in the following major aspects: To demonstrate the deep relevance of Islamic tourism to contemporary Islamic civilization and to civilizational renewal To apply the principles of the Shari ah, especially the halal prescriptions for Muslims, to tourism To present Islamic perspectives on [1] the objectives of tourism and [2] the meaning and significance of tourism for human life and thought, especially at the societal level
What is Islamic Tourism? Beyond the Current Understanding Tourism as a multi-dimensional enterprise If we go by the definition of tourist and tourism according to the World Tourism Organization then it is clear that Islam promoted the first large-scale tourism in human history: in particular, the religious institution of hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca generated many activities which we associate today with tourism In the modern world there are many service industries associated with tourism: transport services, hospitality services, entertainment services are the most important Potential touristic sights have been exploited to the fullest
What is Islamic Tourism? Beyond the Current Understanding (continued ) The need for a new and broader understanding of Islamic Tourism: Beyond conventional tourism Islamic tourism is an alternative to conventional tourism in the following respects: 1. Avoidance of religiously prohibited (haram) products and services in the tourist packages; in other words, observance of the halal requirement such as in the hospitality and entertainment products and services 2. Offering non-tangible, qualitative ingredients or contents in the tourist package, especially as defined in spiritual-moral terms: later, I will explain that one major feature of Islamic tourism is that it is a k- tourism (knowledge-tourism), including the pursuit of spiritual knowledge 3. Offering opportunities for vastly improved cultural literacy, for learning other perspectives on the inner meaning of tourism, especially the understanding of pleasure, vacation and recreation as the primary objectives of tourism
What is Islamic Tourism? Beyond the Current Understanding (continued ) The need for a new and broader understanding of Islamic tourism: Beyond the current understanding of Islamic tourism Islamic tourism is not just about visiting holy places, mosques, shrines and tombs, and other popular religious sites that are limited to the history of Islam Objects of sight-seeing or touristic sights such as the pre-islamic historical sites and the natural wonders targeted by conventional eco-tourism may be included and indeed projected as part of Islamic tourism provided that the Islamic perspectives on ecotourism and the pre-islamic historical sites are always made clear to the tour operators and the potential tourists
What is Islamic Tourism? Beyond the Current Understanding (continued ) The need for a new and broader understanding of Islamic tourism: Beyond the current understanding of Islamic tourism Islam is a religion of knowledge: the knowledge content of Islamic tourism needs to be improved In addition to the types of services that are well taken care of in conventional tourism, Islamic tourism packages provide more than adequate religious products and services The application of the principles of the Shari ah to tourism should not be seen as restricting the scope of Islamic tourism. The application is only to ensure that the tourists will enjoy products and services of good quality (al-tayyibat)
What is Islamic Tourism? Beyond the Current Understanding (continued ) The Islamicity of Islamic tourism This brings us to the issue of what is Islamic when we apply the term to tourism: what makes Islamic tourism Islamic? There are many criteria of Islamicity at the detailed levels of Muslim beliefs and practices. But at the most fundamental level, there are two criteria: [1] conformity to the principle of al-tawhid (divine unity) at the level of ideas and beliefs and [2] conformity to the Shari ah at the level of practices.
What is Islamic Tourism? Beyond the Current Understanding (continued ) The Islamicity of Islamic tourism In conformity with these two criteria the Qur an presents a universal history of mankind: there is the universal history of Islam beginning from Adam, the first man as well as the first Prophet of God; the history of the world is essentially the history of the 124,000 Prophets from Adam to Prophet Muhammad Implication for tourism: many of the historical sites in the world are associated with the ancient communities of some of these Prophets; the Qur an urges man to travel through the earth to learn moral lessons from what had befallen the towns and cities of these communities. In other words, the pre-islamic ruins should be part of the Islamic touristic sites
Quranic-based Features of Islamic Tourism Islamic tourism is a k-tourism Let me repeat: Islam is a religion of knowledge. This means that knowledge is a primary motive of Muslim thinking and Muslim activities. This resulting knowledge is to lead ultimately to knowledge of God. According to the Qur an, God reveals Himself in creation as well as in human history so that man can know Him God displays His signs in the following: 1. In the natural world of minerals, plants, and animals: to demonstrate unity in biodiversity. A Quranic verse on biodiversity and its spiritual message reads: Do you not see that God sent down water from the sky with which We brought forth fruits of diverse hues? In the mountains there are white and red, of diverse hues, and pitchy black; and human beings too, and beasts and cattle diverse are their hues. From among His servants, it is only those who know fear God. Verily God is Most Mighty, Most Forgiving. (Al-Qur an, chapter 35, verses 27-28)
Quranic-based Features of Islamic Tourism (continued ) Islamic tourism is a k-tourism 2. In the human world which is characterized by ethnic-cultural diversity: to demonstrate unity in cultural diversity. A Quranic verse on ethnic-cultural diversity reads: And among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the variations in your languages and your colors; verily in that are signs for those who know. (Al-Qur an, chapter 30, verse 22) Another verse reads: O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other. Verily the most honored of you in the sight of God is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things). (Al-Qur an, chapter 49, verse 13)
Quranic-based Features of Islamic Tourism (continued ) Islamic tourism is a k-tourism 3. In natural and cultural history: a) To understand divine power and divine wisdom in the creation of the still visible natural wonders and divine laws operating in the world of nature. A Quranic verse reads: Say: Travel through the earth and see how God did originate creation; so will God produce a later creation: for God has power over all things. (Al-Qur an, chapter 29, verse 20) b) (b) To understand divine power and the divine laws operating in the moral domain of human history that have resulted in the end and destruction of the mightiest empires and the most prosperous of towns and cities (the Qur anic al-qaryah). In 13 different verses scattered in various chapters the Qur an calls on man to travel through the earth to see the historical sites with the view of learning about the historical fates of human communities who have led ways of life and life styles that went against the divine laws governing the moral universe (see 3:137; 6:11; 12:109; 16:36; 22:46; 27:69; 29:20; 30:9; 30:42; 35:44; 40:21; 40:82; 47:10)
Quranic-based Features of Islamic Tourism (continued ) Islamic tourism is a k-tourism The role of Islamic tourism in the human learning of these signs: 1. On the basis of the above Quranic perspectives, eco-tourism should be an important part of Islamic tourism. The role of Islamic eco-tourism is to help explore the manifestations of al-tawhid in biodiversity; the richness and the grandeur of natural phenomena 2. Inter-cultural understanding and cultural literacy should be among the objectives of Islamic tourism. Learning about other living cultures and the ethnic-cultural diversity in our world is in conformity with the teachings of the Qur an and therefore deserves to be part of Islamic tourism 3. Specialized group tours and expeditions for the study of natural history (e.g. paleontology) and the study of human history (e.g. archaeology) such as for scientists, students and teachers. This type of group tours and expeditions should be encouraged as part of Islamic tourism
Quranic-based Features of Islamic Tourism (continued ) Islamic tourism is a k-tourism The role of Islamic tourism in the human learning of these signs: 1. On the basis of the above Quranic perspectives, eco-tourism should be an important part of Islamic tourism. The role of Islamic eco-tourism is to help explore the manifestations of al-tawhid in biodiversity; the richness and the grandeur of natural phenomena 2. Inter-cultural understanding and cultural literacy should be among the objectives of Islamic tourism. Learning about other living cultures and the ethnic-cultural diversity in our world is in conformity with the teachings of the Qur an and therefore deserves to be part of Islamic tourism 3. Specialized group tours and expeditions for the study of natural history (e.g. paleontology) and the study of human history (e.g. archaeology) such as for scientists, students and teachers. This type of group tours and expeditions should be encouraged as part of Islamic tourism
Quranic-based Features of Islamic Tourism (continued ) Islamic tourism is Shari ah-compliant The word Shari ah is understood here in its comprehensive and universal sense The Shari ah is said to be the concrete embodiment of the Divine Will because it is ultimately based on the Islamic revelation in the Qur an It is concrete and all-embracing in the sense that it includes not only universal moral principles but also details of the way in which man should conduct every facet of his earthly life, both private and social It is the primary source of what is right and what is wrong at the level of human actions Every human act falls into one of five categories: [1] the obligatory (wajib); [2] the meritorious or recommended (mandub); [3] the forbidden (haram); [4] the reprehensible (makruh); [5] the indifferent (mubah). The category of haram constitutes a small domain of activities; the category of halal ( the permissible) is such a vast domain of possible human choices It is in this universal sense of the Shari ah that we are able to see its relevance to Islamic tourism
Quranic-based Features of Islamic Tourism (continued ) The spiritual-moral dimension of Islamic tourism packages To include facilities for spiritual practices particularly the five daily prayers, the breaking of fasting, etc. To exclude prohibited products and services The observance of spiritual practices during a journey such as tasbih (at the start of journey and during plane descent) and takbir (during a plane take off): seeking security through divine protection Visit to and prayer in local mosques for Muslim tourists
The Global Cultural Significance of Islamic Tourism If based on the teachings of the Qur an, then Islamic tourism can help to promote deeper intercultural understanding than what we have now and to bring about real cultural literacy that will help to eradicate cultural prejudices and animosity Islamic tourism can help through its perspectives on eco-tourism to inculcate a deeper appreciation of the natural environment among the peoples of the world and thus to protect the environment from further destruction
The Global Cultural Significance of Islamic Tourism (continued ) The primary goal of the Shari ah is to help man to lead a healthy life style through the observance of moderation and balance (wasatiyyah) in his life. In being Shari ah-compliant, Islamic tourism has a important message for all: tourism must contribute to the well-being of everyone Since civilizational renewal of 21st century humanity requires intercultural understanding and solidarity and the rebirth of spiritual and ethical-moral values as taught by religion, Islamic tourism founded on the universal principles of Islam can serve as an effective tool of this civilizational renewal
Conclusion If Islamic tourism is understood in the sense I have just described, then there are both great opportunities and formidable challenges for the industry. The opportunities should be exploited and the challenges addressed collectively by all those concerned in one way or another with the growth and development of Islamic tourism. If Islamic tourism remains true to its name then it has to be knowledge and value oriented and yet remaining capable of delivering pleasure and happiness to the tourists
Thank you. Osman Bakar, PhD