Q: I have been invited to a “Walima” of a close family relative. The event will be in a hall with a screen to separate men and women. The bride will be on a stage and the bridegroom will (after the nikaah) change into a suit and go to the bride to put the ring on her finger and exchange jewellery. There will also be a lot of non-Muslims attending as well and I expect that women will be inappropriately dressed. It is claimed that there will be no photographs but I suspect that this will be difficult to enforce and control. My son has been requested to recite Qur'an at this function. My questions are:
1. Is it permissible to attend such a gathering?
2. Is it permissible for my son to recite Qur'an here?
My obvious concern is about breaking family ties should I not attend. Please advise.
A: We don't at all approve of these types of functions. Is it in keeping with shame and modesty for a woman to come out of her home and go into a hall and pose for all the audience? It is a shame to even think along these lines. Shame is an integral branch of deen and when shame goes out of one's life then imaan also begins to disappear. Hence going to such a function is not at all advisable. The more important tie that is to be maintained is the tie with Allah Ta`ala. What is the good of a family tie when you are breaking up with Allah.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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