Blessings of a Lockdown Wedding
Hidden Blessings in Weddings that Took Place During Covid-19
Before Covid-19, weddings were different. For many of us, the consideration of a small wedding is not an option given that we tend to invite those from our close, secondary and distant circles. As with all tribulations, we find blessings hidden therein. These numerous blessings are spiritual and pragmatic. Has your wedding been delayed? Has the opportunity for marriage arisen in this uncertain time? Did you have a pandemic wedding? In this collaborative piece, SeekersGuidance offers some reflections on why modest ceremonies may be amongst the most fruitful.
Accepting Allah’s Will
A marriage that falls during Covid-19 was decreed by Allah Most High. “I am amazed by the believer. Verily, Allah does not decree anything for the believer except what is good for him” (Ahmed). By accepting Allah’s will, the couple prioritizes the cornerstone of success in this life: Allah. The couple understands that delaying this sacred bond for the sake of numbers or luxury may not be beneficial. For many, this may be an undesirable circumstance, but if performed with sincerity (ikhlas), it may receive Allah’s pleasure.
Fulfilling the Sunna of Marriage
Furthermore, marriage itself entails reward and blessings. It is a source of barakah and a means of sustenance. By choosing to continue with your marriage and not delaying, you are pleasing Allah Most High and following in the Sunnah of the Best of Creation (peace and blessings be upon him).
Marry those among you who are single, or the virtuous ones among yourselves, male or female: if they are in poverty, Allah will give them means out of His grace: for Allah encompasseth all, and He Knoweth all things (Quran 24:32).
It was narrated from A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) that: the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Marriage is part of my sunnah, and whoever does not follow my sunna has nothing to do with me. Get married, for I will boast of your great numbers before the nations. Whoever has the means, let him get married, and whoever does not, then he should fast for it will diminish his desire” (ibn Maja).
Simplicity and Lower Costs
Lockdown weddings have been reduced in numbers in order to curb the spread of Covid-19. When you remove the 400 people guest list, you may realize that the ones that attend pray for nothing more than to see the couple happy. An intimate atmosphere is created, removing the pressure of pleasing your guests through fancy favors and photoshoots.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him) advocated for lower costs and less extravagance. According to a sahih hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) said “The best marriages are the easiest” (Ibn Hibban).
Sayyida A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The most blessed marriage (nikah) is the one with the least expenses” (Bayhaqi).
Many lockdown weddings have taken place in mosques instead of grand halls and luxurious settings. It is not possible to quantify the blessings of such a union sanctified in the House of God. The masjid itself is beautiful – no decor is needed.
By simplifying a wedding, we might reduce the number of considerations that need to be made. This simplification is closer to the essence of the marriage ceremony. Fewer decisions give rise to harmony by reducing areas of disagreement.
Another unexpected blessing is the financial saving. Some couples may begin their marriage in debt as they struggle to pay for a large and lavish wedding. Others spend generously on the hall and catering, only to realize later that the money would have been a valuable saving.
Again, the intention is important. A lavish wedding of two pious believers may be more pleasing to Allah Most High than a small & simple wedding between two vain Muslims.
Blessings in Tribulation
For someone who has been planning a wedding for years, a lockdown wedding may be a letdown — a source of dejection and disappointment. Despite hearing all of these hadiths, one may still feel upset and dismayed because of not being able to hold a large wedding where guests can embrace one another without fear of infection and disease.
For any person facing tribulation, sorrow, or disappointment, there is much goodness awaiting them at the end of the tunnel. Allah Most High tells us, “And if Allah touches you with hurt, there is none to lift it except him” (Qur’an, 6:17).
One of the countless blessings of tribulation is that one is made aware of the Divine Lordship and overwhelming Power of Allah; a realization that all things are in His grasp.
There are times when we begin to imagine that we are in charge and that we have built this and that we have done that, Allah will send us things to call us back to Him that show us who is the Lord. It’s an opportunity for us to reflect and turn back to Allah in thankfulness and gratitude for all the blessings He bestowed upon us.
Having Sincerity
This time allows us to reflect on the purpose of our marriage. If it is for Allah, then certainly Allah is with us and watches and our reward will be intact, if it is for other than that, then we will feel the loss of barakah and acceptance.
Covid-19 may end, God Willing, but a believer will face many unexpected trials. Sailing through these trials and accepting Allah’s decree, will build strength in the believer’s ability to handle tribulations.
“Amazing is the affair of the believer, verily all of his affair is good and this is not for no one except the believer. If something of good befalls him [and] he is grateful and that is good for him. If something of harm befalls him [and] he is patient and that is good for him” (Muslim).
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