What Is The Ruling Of Having Fun In A Wedding?

What is the ruling of having fun in a wedding?

Religion of Islam complies with the creation of human as an individual and society in terms of both its principles of belief and worship and rules of social life and morals. It is clear that Islam, which is the religion of human nature, give importance to meeting the needs and desires of humans that arise from their nature. In this respect, as it allows material/physical needs and desires of humans to be met, it also allows their spiritual-immaterial and aesthetic needs and desires to be met likewise.

Here, the matter of whether having musical entertainment in weddings is permissible or not comes to mind. It is seen that there is not enough clear evidence neither in the Holy Qur’an nor in sunnah to prove that listening to music is haram and the people who listens to music are sinners . In this respect, the Messenger of Allah (saw) advised to play tambourine in order to announce nikah (Tirmidhi, Nikah, 6). Again in a eid day, he warned the people who found two little girls playing tambourine and singing a song near Aisha (ra) odd by saying, “Let them continue, today is eid” (Muslim, Eidayn, 4).

Aisha (ra) says, “While two little girls were singing heroic songs about the battle of Buas near me, Prophet Muhammad (saw) appeared. He went and laid on his side on bed and turned his face to opposite direction, then my father Abu Bakr (ra) came and walked in. He scolded me and said, ‘Demon’s instrument in the house of the Messenger of Allah!’ Hearing this, the Messenger of Allah (saw) stated by turning to him, ‘Let them (sing!)’ When they were deep in conversation and did not pay attention to us, I made eyes at the girls and they left.” (Bukhari, Eidayn, 2). In another narrative, Aisha (ra) says, “It was a day of eid. Abyssinian people were playing sword-shiald game in masjid. I do not remember if I requested him or He told, the Messenger of Allah (saw) said,

- Do you want to watch it?

- Of course!

- He stood up, took me on his back and we stayed like that cheek to cheek.

- O tribe of Arfidah, carry on (play), he said. This continued until I was tired of it. When he realized that I was tired of it, he asked:

- Is it enough?

- Yes, I answered. Upon this answer he said:

- Then you leave (Bukhari, Eidayn 2; Muslim, Eidayn, 4)

Amr Ibn Sa’d (ra) narrates, “During a wedding, I entered the room where Qaraza Ibn Ka’b and Abu Mas’ud al-Ansari were present, some girls were singing there. I could not stand and said, ‘You are among the companions who accompanied the Messenger of Allah (saw) in the battle of Badr, this is unbelievable!’ Upon my words they said, ‘Sit here and listen, if you want; and if you do not want, you may leave. We are allowed to have fun in wedding” (Nasa’i, Nikah, 80).

Considering all these, scholars said that people may play tambourine, sing songs, and have fun in weddings and in the days of eid as long as they do not talk haram words and commit haram deeds (See Qattani, at-Taratib al-Idariyya, II, 79-80). However, behaviors such as thinking about haram things, glorifying harams, seducing sexual feelings, and not observing the rules of creating marriage impediments are not permissible.

Source: Presidency Of Religious Affairs The Turkey, High Board of Religious Affairs FATWA