This teaching reflects on a spiritual challenge of our times: modern society has turned tatil—vacation—into an excuse for forgetting Allah. Allah created humanity to know, remember and serve Him, yet many have slipped into what the teaching calls a “season of lies,” a “season of heedlessness” and finally a “season of Satan.” When we call a break tatil, we often look through a different pair of glasses that hides the nearness of the Almighty.
Travel itself remains a blessed act. The Prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged journeys for health, knowledge and spiritual benefit, and sıla-i rahim—visiting one’s relatives—is honoured in the Sunnah. What the teaching warns against is travel as mere indulgence, without remembrance. Tatil as it is understood today does not belong to prophetic practice; it is neither obligatory (farz) nor recommended (sünnet).
When tekkes and dergahs close for “vacation,” attendance falls and spiritual guidance fades; worship lapses collectively, and worldly pleasure eclipses remembrance. Instead, believers are invited to travel with Allah:
- Make every trip an act of worship, seeking health and knowledge while continually invoking His name.
- Turn each place—mosque, market, garden, even a swimming pool—into a space for dhikr and prayer.
- Bring the true “gifts” before Allah: sincere prayers, good deeds and the company of the saints (evliya), whose testimony strengthens faith.
A vacation becomes spiritually sound only when it is filled with remembrance. Visiting holy sites and the tombs of saints, or simply enjoying nature, can all keep Allah present in our hearts. When tatil becomes a way of forgetting Him, it leads believers away from the path and into heedlessness.
We therefore encourage seekers to reorient their journeys towards worship: let every step be accompanied by dhikr, every sight become an invitation to contemplate the Divine, and every rest a moment to renew one’s commitment to Allah.
If these thoughts speak to your heart, join our live gatherings, where we explore such insights together under the guidance of learned sheikhs. More information is on our Live meetings page.
May every journey bring you nearer to the Eternal Presence, and may your tatil become a true renewal of faith.
