Fatwa by: Dar al-Ifta Committee
Question:
What is the ruling on women attending wedding and birthday parties? Birthdays and similar celebrations are considered innovations (bidʿah), and every innovation is misguidance. Additionally, these events often include night-long musical programs. Is it haram for women to attend such events, even if they only wish to see the bride and honor the hosts, without listening to music and singing?
Answer:
If wedding events do not involve free mixing between men and women and are free from indecent songs and other prohibited activities, or if women’s attendance could help end such inappropriate practices, then there is nothing to prevent participating in such joyful occasions. In fact, if a woman can put an end to these evils, then it becomes obligatory for her to participate to achieve that.
However, if the gatherings involve clear violations of Islamic teachings and she does not have the power to stop them, then it is haram for her to participate in them.
Allah (ﷻ) says:
وَذَرِ الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا دِينَهُمْ لَعِبًا وَلَهْوًا وَغَرَّتْهُمُ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا...
“And leave those who take their religion as amusement and diversion and whom the worldly life has deluded…”
(Surah al-Anʿām 6:70)
And also:
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَشْتَرِي لَهْوَ الْحَدِيثِ...
“And of mankind is he who purchases idle talk to mislead from the way of Allah without knowledge and takes it as a mockery…”
(Surah Luqmān 31:6)
Numerous ḥadīths have also been narrated condemning singing and music.
As for birthday celebrations, since they are an innovation, it is not permissible for any Muslim man or woman to participate in them. However, if someone attends such events to openly denounce them and explain the Islamic ruling, there may be a basis for permissibility in this case.
And Allah knows best.
Question:
What is the ruling on women attending wedding and birthday parties? Birthdays and similar celebrations are considered innovations (bidʿah), and every innovation is misguidance. Additionally, these events often include night-long musical programs. Is it haram for women to attend such events, even if they only wish to see the bride and honor the hosts, without listening to music and singing?
Answer:
If wedding events do not involve free mixing between men and women and are free from indecent songs and other prohibited activities, or if women’s attendance could help end such inappropriate practices, then there is nothing to prevent participating in such joyful occasions. In fact, if a woman can put an end to these evils, then it becomes obligatory for her to participate to achieve that.
However, if the gatherings involve clear violations of Islamic teachings and she does not have the power to stop them, then it is haram for her to participate in them.
Allah (ﷻ) says:
وَذَرِ الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا دِينَهُمْ لَعِبًا وَلَهْوًا وَغَرَّتْهُمُ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا...
“And leave those who take their religion as amusement and diversion and whom the worldly life has deluded…”
(Surah al-Anʿām 6:70)
And also:
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَشْتَرِي لَهْوَ الْحَدِيثِ...
“And of mankind is he who purchases idle talk to mislead from the way of Allah without knowledge and takes it as a mockery…”
(Surah Luqmān 31:6)
Numerous ḥadīths have also been narrated condemning singing and music.
As for birthday celebrations, since they are an innovation, it is not permissible for any Muslim man or woman to participate in them. However, if someone attends such events to openly denounce them and explain the Islamic ruling, there may be a basis for permissibility in this case.
And Allah knows best.
