You won't know him till you've travelled with him

[Ali Hammuda]

We all have a mask which we hide behind, veiling certain aspects of our personality which we’d rather not publicise. Travelling the earth, however, causes such masks to slip away. On the road, ones true level of ‘Iman and compliance with the Sunnah is tested. The ideal conditions of home are no longer present and hence whether you like it or not, your travel mates will see you for who you truly are.

This should be of no surprise, particularly when we come to understand the roots of the Arabic word “Safar” – Travel. Linguistically, “Safar” means “to reveal/uncover/remove something”.

For example, the woman who isn’t dressed in her Islamic clothing is termed as “Saafira” (coming from the same root word) because she is ‘revealing’ that which should be hidden.

Likewise, the Arabs call the brush which they use to dust the floor with, “Misfara” (again, from the same root) because it ‘removes’ the dust and ‘reveals’ the surface of the floor.

Hence, the term “Safar” for the traveller has been given this name because, as explained by the Arabic linguists:

وسمي السَّفَرُ سَفَراً لأَنه يُسْفِرُ عن وجوه المسافرين وأَخلاقهم فيظهر ما كان خافياً منها
“Travel has been termed “Safar” because it exposes (“yusfiru”) the true faces of the travellers and their personalities, revealing what is usually hidden by them”

It is no surprise therefore why the episode of Abu Bakr's journey with the Prophet PBUH from Mecca to Madina is so significant.

It revealed that he was the relentless adherer to the Sunnah during both residence and travel, ease and trauma.

A genuine Muslim is permanently Muslim, regardless of time, place and circumstance.

[azc]

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