Who built the pyramids? Is it permissible to go on the organized 'Islamic tours' to visit the pyramids, the Dead Sea area, Syria, Jordan, etc.?

Answer

The Mushrik Egyptians built the pyramids. It is not permissible to undertake a journey specifically to view these wasteful buildings and monuments of shirk and kufr. If a person happens to be there on some work, it will be permissible to go to view these monuments in order to derive some lesson for gaining fear of Allah Ta'ala Who had destroyed all the transgressors who erected their satanic monuments. But undertaking a journey to tour such places is not permissible. Furthermore, it is not permissible to go to such places where Allah Ta'ala had wiped out a community with His punishment, e.g. the Dead Sea region where the people of Nabi Lut (alayhis salaam) were destroyed.

The so-called 'Islamic tours' of Jordan, Syria, etc. are not Islamic. They are satanic tours and in conflict with the Shariah. Insaan was not created for idle sport and to waste away the time in futility. The Qur'aan Majeed states: "Verily, the life of this world is but play and amusement while the life of the Aakhirah is best for those who fear (Allah). What have you no intelligence?" The journey ahead beginning with Maut and passing through Barzakh and the calamity of Qiyaamah, is absolutely horrible and most difficult. It is strewn with indescribable hardships and miseries. Allah Ta'ala has sent us into this world for a few very short years to prepare ourselves for that momentous journey.

Those who do not prepare for that journey, will not find the way to Jannat – our original and our final Home. Those who squander their time, energy and wealth – all assets of Amaanat – to gratify their bestial nafs with futile and destructive acts, practices and past-times, will regret and shed tears of blood when it is too late – to no avail.