Excerpted from the book “500 Questions and Answers for Women” based on the Fatāwā of the Scholars of the Ḥaramayn, translated by Ḥāfiẓ ʿAbdullah Salīm
What is the ruling regarding women dancing among themselves during wedding celebrations and similar gatherings?
On the occasion of weddings, there is no harm in women dancing among themselves and singing songs accompanied by the daff, as long as the lyrics do not contain anything against Sharīʿah, because such expressions are considered a form of publicizing the marriage, which the Sharīʿah has encouraged.
However, this is permissible only under specific conditions:
① The dancing must occur exclusively within a gathering of women.
② The singing should not be so loud that it is heard outside the premises.
③ During the dance, the woman must be properly covered—
– Fatwā by Shaykh Ṣāliḥ ibn Fawzān ibn ʿAbdullāh حفظه الله
❖ Question:
What is the ruling regarding women dancing among themselves during wedding celebrations and similar gatherings?
❖ Answer:
On the occasion of weddings, there is no harm in women dancing among themselves and singing songs accompanied by the daff, as long as the lyrics do not contain anything against Sharīʿah, because such expressions are considered a form of publicizing the marriage, which the Sharīʿah has encouraged.
However, this is permissible only under specific conditions:
① The dancing must occur exclusively within a gathering of women.
② The singing should not be so loud that it is heard outside the premises.
③ During the dance, the woman must be properly covered—
- Her shins (pindliyān),
- Forearms (ziraʿayn – from hands to elbows), and
- Upper arms (ʿaḍudayn – from elbows to shoulders) must be covered.
④ None of her ʿawrah (concealable parts) should be exposed during the dance.
⑤ Only those parts of her body may remain uncovered that are customarily uncovered in front of other Muslim women.
– Fatwā by Shaykh Ṣāliḥ ibn Fawzān ibn ʿAbdullāh حفظه الله
