Marriage customs should not contradict the Sharee'ah

8-7-2010 | IslamWeb

Question:

Asslamu Alaikum,
Dear Sheikh,
It is a tradition in my hometown for the groom to go to bride's house after marriage. The groom will live in the bride's house and will give money for food for the entire family. The house will legally belong to wife. I read that during Prophet's time, bride used to go to husband's house after marriage. Is this tradition that is followed in my hometown valid? Please note that this tradition is being followed in my entire muslim town for centuries. Please let us know whether this practice is valid islamically.
Thanks
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 sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

 

We have already issued Fatwa 99480 clarifying that Islam respects the traditions and customs that do not contradict the Sharee’ah. As regards taking the bride to the house of the groom as was the case in the era of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) then this is not an obligation. So, if the husband goes to his wife in the house of her family, then this is permissible.

As regards the prevailing custom which is that the husband gives money for food for the family of the wife, then this is an act of ignorance, whether we consider this as part of the dowry or a price of the house that will belong to the wife. For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 85873.

Allaah Knows best.

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