Inviting Christians to a Muslim wedding

16-3-2005 | IslamWeb

Question:

I want to get married soon. I work for Tourism Company as an English speaking tour-guide. I know a few American people (Christians) who often come to my home town and always want me to be tour-guide for them. Now they want to attend my wedding (I can't say "please don't come"). I want to know it is permissible in Islam if they attend my wedding and NIKAAH ceremony as long as they are Christian people? Can I accept gift from them?

Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

 

There is no harm on you for these non-Muslims to attend your wedding banquet and it is permissible for you to accept their gifts. However, you should be secure from having a feeling of affection towards them as it is not permissible for a Muslim to take the non-Muslims as helpers, friends, or protectors. The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) accepted the gifts of non-Muslims. Imaam Al-Bukhari may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him reported that the king of Aylat (currently a city overlooking the red sea between Jordan and Palestine) offered as a gift a white female donkey and a garment to the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ).

As regards the ruling about working as a tourist guide, then there are some details about it. If this work is to guide them to visit what is permissible like public places and natural landscapes and the like, then this is permissible. On the other hand, but if this work entails guiding them to what is not permissible like places where intoxicants are sold, brothels and the like, then this work is not permissible as it is helping in sin and transgression and Allaah says (which means): {Help you one another in virtue, righteousness and piety but do not help one another in sin and transgression.}[5:2].

Allaah knows best.

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