Is it permissible for the bride to uncover her hair on her wedding night if it is a party for women only? Can she do this in the presence of a Christian woman, who happens to be her uncle’s wife and who claims to be a Muslim even though we have not heard her declaring the Two Testimonies of Faith? Should we treat her as a Muslim sister or not?

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 are three criteria for identifying a disbeliever as a Muslim. They are:

1- By declaring the Two Testimonies of Faith, knowing that it is not necessary for non-Arabs to declare them in Arabic if this is difficult.

2- By being a Muslim’s offspring, like when the disbeliever’s child automatically becomes a Muslim when his father reverts to Islam.

3- By performing an act that is specifically related to Islam like, performing ablution, reciting the Quran or performing a complete Hajj. However, this does not include acts of worship that are common between religions like charity and fasting.

A non-Muslim is not to be considered as a Muslim or to be treated as such, based on a mere claim that he has adopted Islam.

Concerning the question of the bride uncovering her hair at her wedding, you may refer to Fatwa 90940.

Allaah Knows best.