Fatwa: # 18873
Category: Marriage
Country: Malaysia
Date: 13th August 2010

Title

Is it permissible for me to attend the Christian wedding in the church/hall?... since many of my co-workers are christian... I already attend few of the ceremony with the intention of friendship...

Question

Is it permissible for me to attend the Christian wedding in the church/hall?... since many of my co-workers are christian... I already attend few of the ceremony with the intention of friendship...

Answer

 

In the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful


Assalāmu ῾alaykum wa Rahmatullāhi Wabarakātuh

 

It is important to show good character to your Muslim and non Muslim co-workers and acquaintances as it is a means to present the beauty of Islam. However, to keep non Muslims as close friends or allies is against the law of the Shari̒a.

Almighty Allah says in the Holy Quran:

"Oh you who believe! Do not take the Christians and the Jews as allies. They are allies of each other. Whoever has taken them as allies is among them. Indeed Allah does not guide the wrongdoers."

( Al Quran 5:51)

Attending gatherings of the kuffār in churches etc. and participating in their ceremonies is tantamount to honouring their religion and resembling them in action.

Regarding this, Rasulullah Sallallāhu ̒alaihi Wa Sallam has said:

"Whoever resembles a nation, then he is among them."[1]

                                                                              (Abu Dāwud)

Therefore, in principle it is not permissible to enter churches/church halls etc.[2]

 

N.B.  In most, if not all ceremonies of non Muslim weddings there are mixed gatherings (of males and females), music, dancing and alcohol that is served. Therefore, to attend these weddings and ceremonies will be Impermissible.

 

And Allāh Ta῾āla Knows Best
Wassalāmu ῾alaykum 

 

Ml. Zakariyya bin Ahmed,
Student Dārul Iftā

Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Dārul Iftā


[1] قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من تشبه بقوم فهو منهم

 

[2] وفي التتارخانية يكره للمسلم الدخول في البيعة والكنيسة ، وإنما يكره من حيث إنه مجمع الشياطين لا من حيث إنه ليس له حق الدخول ا هـ قال في البحر : والظاهر أنها تحريمية ؛ لأنها المرادة عند إطلاقهم.
 (رد المحتار,سعيد ,ج1,ص380)

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