Assalaamu Alaykum Warahmatullahe Wabaraktuhu, I would like to ask a question related to Marriage custom in Pakistan region. This gathering happen before the leaving the groom house to the bride house for Nikah. And they called this gathering "Sehra Bandi" Detail information about Sehra Bandi is: The sehra is a veil of flowers that a groom wears on his face as he approaches his bride. Normally this ceremony occurs right as the groom and his family and friends are leaving for the wedding. The groom is also presented with gifts from his family members. Often a commissioned poem is read at this time, and the family shares a prayer that all will go well with the wedding and the future of the bride and groom. Please advice me as soon as possible about this kind of gathering is permissible in Islam or not? Is it come under the heading of Bida'a? Please reply to my question as soon as possible since this issue is raising in our house. But I want to do my marriage with the way of Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad Sallaallahu Allaahi Wasalaam. Jazaka Allaah Khayren.

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.

In principle, every permissible means which leads to announcing the marriage and making it public is permissible. Every society and each era have traditions and customs which are peculiar to it through which it announces its festivals. Islam approved people’s customs which do not contradict the Islamic law, among which is the method of making the marriage public. Therefore, if this custom is free from religious prohibitions, it is permissible to do it. However, if such a custom contains a religious prohibition, like a wrong belief, forbidden mixing between men and women, and the like, then this custom is rejected and it is not permissible to do it.