❖ Islamic Perspective on the Practice of Bārāt (Wedding Procession) ❖
Question:
Does Islam provide any Sharʿī ruling or basis for the cultural practice of "Bārāt" (the groom’s procession to the bride's house or wedding venue)?
Answer by:
Fadhīlat al-ʿĀlim Sayyid Kalīm Ḥusayn Bukhārī ḥafiẓahullāh
The tradition of Bārāt is not found in the time of:
▪ The Prophet ﷺ,
▪ The Ṣaḥābah (Companions), or
▪ The Tābiʿīn (Successors).
Shaykh Ṣalāḥuddīn Yūsuf رحمه الله states in his book:
“Bārāt aur Jahāz kā Taṣawwur, Mafāsid aur Ḥal”:
“It is clear that in the Prophetic era, the time of the Companions, and the early generations (Khayr al-Qurūn), there is no precedent for the practice of Bārāt.”
➤ [Page 3]
✔ Bārāt is not a Sharʿī obligation or Sunnah.
✔ It is a social custom that developed over time.
✔ If practiced without extravagance, pride, or sinful activities, and merely as a means of celebrating marriage, it may be tolerated as a cultural practice.
However, if it includes:
—then such a Bārāt becomes blameworthy and should be avoided.
Question:
Does Islam provide any Sharʿī ruling or basis for the cultural practice of "Bārāt" (the groom’s procession to the bride's house or wedding venue)?
Answer by:
Fadhīlat al-ʿĀlim Sayyid Kalīm Ḥusayn Bukhārī ḥafiẓahullāh
❀ No Evidence of Bārāt in the Prophetic Era:
The tradition of Bārāt is not found in the time of:▪ The Prophet ﷺ,
▪ The Ṣaḥābah (Companions), or
▪ The Tābiʿīn (Successors).
Shaykh Ṣalāḥuddīn Yūsuf رحمه الله states in his book:“Bārāt aur Jahāz kā Taṣawwur, Mafāsid aur Ḥal”:
“It is clear that in the Prophetic era, the time of the Companions, and the early generations (Khayr al-Qurūn), there is no precedent for the practice of Bārāt.”
➤ [Page 3]
❖ Conclusion:
✔ Bārāt is not a Sharʿī obligation or Sunnah.
✔ It is a social custom that developed over time.
✔ If practiced without extravagance, pride, or sinful activities, and merely as a means of celebrating marriage, it may be tolerated as a cultural practice.
However, if it includes:- Isrāf (extravagance)
- Un-Islamic customs
- Display of pride or vanity (riyā')
- Mixing of genders, music, or other ḥarām acts
—then such a Bārāt becomes blameworthy and should be avoided.
