Question:
What is the ruling on attending such wedding invitations where there is dancing, singing, immodesty, photography, and Hindu customs and traditions? Please guide us correctly according to the Book and Sunnah.
Answer:
Accepting an invitation from a Muslim brother is indeed a Shariah right and is one of the six rights mentioned by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. However, if the invitation involves un-Islamic matters, such as music and singing, taking photographs, women adorning themselves and moving around without hijab or proper covering, or other such superstitions, then participating in it is not permissible, no matter how close a relative or family member the inviter may be. To explain this issue, consider the following authentic hadith: It is narrated from Sayyidina Ali ibn Abi Talib رضي الله عنه that he prepared food and invited the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to join. When the Prophet ﷺ came and looked towards the house, he saw a curtain with pictures on it and turned back. Ali رضي الله عنه asked:
“O Messenger of Allah! May my parents be sacrificed for you, what made you turn back?” The Prophet ﷺ replied: “There is a curtain in the house with pictures, and indeed angels do not enter a house in which there are pictures.”
From this hadith, it is understood that the Prophet ﷺ did not participate in an invitation where there were pictures. Therefore, gatherings based on immoralities and indecencies should not be attended, except to prevent evil. Also consider that the Prophet’s ﷺ invitation was from his cousin and son-in-law, and the house belonged to his youngest daughter, Sayyida Fatimah رضي الله عنها. Despite such close kinship, he did not sit for that meal but turned back. Hence, even if the inviter is a very dear and close relative, if the invitation involves matters against Shariah, participation is prohibited. Now, on one hand, there is maintaining kinship ties, and on the other, there is the presence of immoralities, innovations, customs, and indecencies. It is also a Shariah principle that when permissible and forbidden matters coexist, the forbidden is given preference and the permissible is abandoned, so that one does not become a sinner and disobedient to Allah due to engaging in forbidden acts. Imam Ibn Majah has dedicated a chapter to this hadith titled “When a guest sees something objectionable, he should turn back,” which is very clear on this issue.
