Excerpt from "Ahkām wa Masāʾil fī Ḍawʾ al-Kitāb wa al-Sunnah" by Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbānī ◈
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.
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.
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]
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.
✔ Accept invitations when gatherings are within the bounds of Sharīʿah.
✘ Do not attend events involving:
Doing so would be tantamount to participating in disobedience to Allah ﷻ.
❖ 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.
