My paternal female cousin died on Monday and my bridal ceremony will be held on Thursday. What should I do? Is it better to postpone or complete it? I heard that there is no impediment from holding a party on such occasions three days after condolences. Is there any Hadeeth in this respect? Advise me, may Allaah The Almighty reward you.

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, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.

There is no forbiddance to hold a bridal ceremony at any time after the death of anyone other than a husband. Being so, the basic rule is that it is lawful and permissible. But there is no harm to observe the feelings of the family of the deceased by postponing the wedding party for three days after the death since it is the period of condolence.

Nevertheless, it should not be postponed more than three days because it is impermissible for the family of the deceased, let alone others, to mourn beyond three days. In his explanation of Sunan Abu Daawood, Al-‘Atheem Abaadi says: “It indicates that mourning and weeping without wailing over the dead is permissible for three days only.”

Hence, there is no blame on you to hold your bridal ceremony at the aforementioned time.

Allaah Knows best.