Can I Participate in a Bouquet Toss at a Wedding?
Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad
Question
Could I take part in the bouquet toss at my cousin’s wedding?
Answer
In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful
Origins
Thank you for your question. Let’s look at the tradition of a bouquet toss. “Women used to try to rip pieces of the bride’s dress and flowers to obtain some of her good luck. The bride would toss her bouquet and run away to escape from the crowd. Today the bouquet is tossed to single women with the belief that whoever catches it will be the next to marry.” [Wedding Lore and Traditions]
Superstition
This tradition stems from ancient British non-Muslim culture. It doesn’t have a basis in any religion, such as Christianity. The whole practice revolves around pure random luck instead of God-decreed destiny, which is the opposite of Muslim belief. Superstition is impermissible in Islam; because I am sure you don’t believe in it, you should distance yourself from what is connected.
Speak with Your Actions
Muslims water their religion and compromise their Islamic standards when they partake in these traditions. Muslims need to opt out of silly practices that can embarrass some of the guests and reject the notion that luck has anything to do with a divinely decreed marriage.
The basic answer to your question is that this bouquet toss is not intentionally imitating specific acts of another religion (not simply resembling or having roots in an old religious tradition that has now watered down into a merely cultural event). What you stated would be permissible. [Circumcision Rites & Imitating Non-Muslims]
However, instead of succumbing to mindlessly participating in the practices around you, choose to participate in activities that benefit you and please Allah, and show others what your values are.
The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Shall I not tell you of the best of you?” They said: “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.” He said: “The best of you are those who, when seen, Allah the Mighty, the Majestic, is remembered.” [Ibn Maja]
May Allah give you the best in this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqida, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.
