Customary practices

Q: What is the Islamic ruling on dating? Will there be any difference in the ruling if the boy and girl are engaged and intend to get married in the future?

Q:

1. I have been in a secret nikaah for 10 years. As such, we didnt do walima. My immediate family now know about my nikaah. Is it possible to do a walima so long after a nikaah?

2. Also, according to my husband he says that because I'm a secret wife, I have no right to inheritence according to Islam. Kindly confirm/clarify.

3. I must point out that 5 years ago, his first wife learnt about us. She was devastated but wanted to meet me. She has accepted his nikaah to me but insisted that the nikaah must still be kept a secret and set specific rules for us. So...is our nikaah still a secret one and is it justifying for her to set such rules and ask that the nikaah still be kept a secret?

Q: If a woman gets divorced, keeps it a secret, and then gets married again secretly. Her second marriage is done without her guardian but in the presence of two witnesses and it is not announced.

After some time, she reveals this secret only to her children. They keeps this secret for almost 8-9 years because the children are afraid and their parents constantly tell them to hide it. After those years of stress and frustration, their children reveal all this.

I have heard somewhere that hiding your marriage is actually commiting zina. I want to know if the couple is subjected to the hadd punishment and this includes her children too as they were hiding too all this time although they did not want to?

Q: I would like to know if I could talk to a non mahram for the purpose of a secret marriage as my first wife will not agree to my 2nd marriage and is asking for a divorce if I marry a 2nd wife so hence i am considering a 2nd marriage.

Q: Some people say that nikah should not be performed in between the months of the two eids, i.e. the months between eid ul fiter and eid ul adha. Is there any basis for this in shariah?  

Q:

1. What is the ruling on doing an engagement party? Is it permissible in Islam?

2. Is it permissible to attend an engagement party if there is no music and ring exchange ceremony and it is just a party?

Q: My father died just one month before my marriage date I want to postpone the marriage, so for how long can I postpone the marriage?

Q: I heard from the honorable Ulama a hadith regarding nikah. Nabi Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: 

أعظم النكاح بركةً أيسره مؤنةً

The most blessed nikah is the one which carries less expense.

So in this hadith Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) encouraged the ummah to spend the least on the occasion of nikah. I would like to ask you a few questions regarding the 'Money Spent' in Nikah.

1. What type of expense is referred to in this hadith that should be kept least to achieve the maximum barakah (benefit) of nikah?

2. Does giving gifts such as clothing, perfumes, etc. to the groom's family before the nikah ceremony fall under the category of nikah expenses as mentioned in the hadith?

3. Does holding a feast for the groom's family and brides close relatives after the nikah, at the time of rukhsati, fall under the category of 'nikah expenses' as mentioned in the hadith?

4. Does gifting the groom's family with garlands, flowers, and sweets after the nikah as a way to express happiness fall under the category of 'nikah expenses mentioned in the hadith above?

5. Should all these activities mentioned above be avoided to achieve the blessings of nikah?

6. If the bride's father is wealthy enough to carry out the expenses of such activities like giving gifts, holding feasts, etc. and does it happily without having the niyah to show off but just to express happiness,will this approach be against the hadith of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) that encourages us to spend the least on the occasion of nikah?

Q: I live in another country due to work. I can afford to look after my family but due to my parents and other family members I am forced to stay abroad and work to save money. My wife is not happy living separate. If I bring my wife here, I'm afraid my parents will get angry on me. What should I do in this situation?

Q:

1. What is the ruling on a man thats wear a silver ring.

2. Is it a must for a woman who is married to wear a ring?

3: Is it permissible for a man and woman, on the nikah day to exchange rings?