What Is the Limit for Spending on a Wedding Without Falling Into Extravagance?
Shafi'i Fiqh
Answered By Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad
Question
What is the limit for spending on a wedding without falling into extravagance?
Answer
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. Blessings and peace be upon the Master of the Messengers, his Family, and all his Companions.
The Significance of Wedding Celebrations
It is well established among scholars that celebrating a wedding is a commendable act. It is a joyous occasion marking the fulfillment of the Sunna of marriage and bringing happiness and love as individuals begin a new chapter of life with mutual affection and eagerness. However, while Islam permits celebrating weddings, this allowance is not unrestricted. It must be aligned with Islamic principles and cultural norms, avoiding prohibited actions and extravagance.
Evidence supporting the permissibility of expressing joy at weddings is found in the narration of Aisha (Allah be pleased with her), who said:
The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,
“Announce this marriage.” [Tirmidhi; Ibn Maja]
The jurists have thus stated that it is recommended to make marriages public and to celebrate them with permissible festivities, such as playing the duff (drum), to distinguish them from illicit relationships. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“Announce this marriage, hold it in the mosques, and strike the duff for it. Let one of you host a feast, even if with a single sheep.” [Shirbini, Mughni al-Muhtaj; Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar; al-Mawsu‘a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaytiyya]
Additionally, Anas (Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said to Abdur-Rahman Ibn ‘Awf when he got married:
“Hold a wedding feast, even if with a single sheep.” [Bukhari]
The Limit of Extravagance
The threshold for extravagance is determined by customary practices (‘urf) and societal norms. In Islamic jurisprudence, matters not explicitly defined by the Sacred Law or linguistic rules are referred back to customs and traditions. Imam Taqi al-Din al-Subki stated:
“Know that one of the well-known principles among jurists is that any matter not explicitly defined by the Sacred Law or language is referred back to custom.” [Subki, al-Ibhaj]
Thus, as long as the celebration does not involve sinful actions and remains within customary and reasonable boundaries, it is permissible and even recommended.
May Allah (Most High) fill the homes of Muslims with joy and happiness, bless them with security and peace, and grant them abundant goodness. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.
[Shaykh] Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad
Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad, born in Damascus, Syria, in 1965, pursued his Islamic studies in the mosques and institutes of Damascus. A graduate of the Islamic University of Medina in 1985, he holds a Ph.D. in Islamic Studies from Bahauddin Zakariya University in Pakistan.
He has extensive experience developing curricula and enhancing the teaching of various academic courses, including conducting intensive courses. Shaykh Awad has taught Fiqh, Usul al-Fiqh, Quranic sciences, the history of legislation, inheritance laws, and more at several institutes and universities such as Al-Furqan Institute for Islamic Sciences and Majma‘ al-Fath al-Islami in Damascus.
He is a lecturer at the Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih Waqf University in Istanbul, teaching various Arabic and Islamic subjects, and teaches at numerous Islamic institutes in Istanbul. Shaykh Awad is a member of the Association of Syrian Scholars, a founding member of the Zayd bin Thabit Foundation, a member of the Syrian Scholars Association, and a member of the Academic Council at the Iman Center for Teaching the Sunna and Quran.
Among his teachers from whom he received Ijazat are his father, Shaykh Muhammad Muhiyiddin Awad, Shaykh Muhiyiddin al-Kurdi, Shaykh Muhammad Karim Rajih, Shaykh Usama al-Rifai, Shaykh Ayman Suwaid, Shaykh Ahmad al-Qalash, Shaykh Muhammad Awwama, and Shaykh Mamduh Junayd.
