Excerpt from “Ahkām wa Masāʾil fī Ḍawʾ al-Kitāb wa al-Sunnah” by Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbānī ◈
❖ Question:
What is the ruling on attending wedding or similar invitations where there is music, dancing, immodesty, photography, or Hindu cultural rituals? Kindly guide us according to the Qur’ān and Sunnah.
❖ Answer:
While accepting a Muslim brother’s invitation is indeed a Sharʿī right and considered among the six rights that every Muslim owes to another — as taught by the Prophet ﷺ — there is an important condition:
If the invitation involves un-Islamic activities, such as:
✘ Singing and music
✘ Photography or video recording
✘ Women adorned with makeup and dressed immodestly, mingling without proper hijab
✘ Imitation of Hindu rituals or customs
✘ Other vices and innovations (munkarāt and bidʿāt)
Then participation in such gatherings is not permissible, regardless of how close or beloved the host may be — even if they are close relatives.
❖ Evidence from Authentic Ḥadīth:
Consider the following narration:
❖ Sayyidunā ʿAlī bin Abī Ṭālib رضي الله عنه prepared food and invited the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. When the Prophet ﷺ came near the house and saw a curtain with images on it, he turned back.
ʿAlī رضي الله عنه asked:
“O Messenger of Allah! May my parents be sacrificed for you, why did you return?”
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
“There is a curtain in the house with images on it, and indeed, the angels do not enter a house in which there are images.”
📚 [Sunan al-Nasāʾī, Kitāb al-Zīnah, Bāb al-Taṣāwīr – Ḥadīth: 5353]
📚 [Ibn Mājah, Kitāb al-Aṭʿimah, Bāb: When a Guest Sees Something Wrong, He Should Leave – Ḥadīth: 3359]
❖ Key Takeaways:
① The Prophet ﷺ refused to attend a meal where images were present.
② The host in this narration was none other than his cousin and son-in-law, ʿAlī رضي الله عنه, and the house belonged to his beloved daughter, Fāṭimah رضي الله عنها.
③ Despite such close ties, the Prophet ﷺ did not make an exception — highlighting the seriousness of avoiding un-Islamic practices.
④ Thus, even if the host is a close relative, attendance is not permissible if Sharʿī prohibitions are being violated.
⑤ If the situation involves a conflict between maintaining family ties (ṣilah raḥmī) and avoiding sinful acts, then Islamic principles dictate:
When permissible (mubāḥ) and prohibited (ḥarām) matters coincide, priority is given to avoiding the ḥarām, even if that means forgoing the permissible.
⑥ Imām Ibn Mājah titled this ḥadīth:
“If the guest sees something objectionable, he should leave.”
This heading further supports the ruling.
❖ Conclusion:
✔ Accept invitations when gatherings are within the bounds of Sharīʿah.
✘ Do not attend events involving:
- Music and dance
- Immodesty and lack of hijab
- Picture-taking and filming
- Rituals influenced by other religions
Doing so would be tantamount to participating in disobedience to Allah ﷻ.
