Decorating the House During Weddings
Question:
As Muslims, are we allowed to decorate the house with decorations at wedding times? Is it classified as excessive expenditure? Could you please explain if the marriage is affected in any way Islamically by this type of decorations?
Answer:
The wedding (nikah) ceremony and the celebration along with it should be kept as simple as possible.
Sayyida A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: “The most blessed wedding (nikah) is the one with the least expenses.” (al-Bayhaqi in his Shu’ab al-Iman & Mishkat al-Masabih).
The Nikah is a noble way (sunnah) of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace), and simplicity was the hallmark of every Nikah performed by him. The simplicity of the marriage between Sayyida Fatima and Sayyiduna Ali (Allah be pleased with them both) is known to all.
Therefore, we should keep the wedding ceremonies very simple and plain, and in accordance with the Sunnah of our beloved Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace). Lavish decoration of the houses should be avoided, for this is contrary to simplicity.
Moreover, excessive and extravagance expenditure in weddings at a time when nearly half the Ummah is barely making ends meet is something that can never be favourable.
Allah Most High says:
“…But squander not your wealth in the manner of a spindrift; Verily spindrifts are brothers of the Shaytans, and the Shaytan is ungrateful to his lord.” (Surah al-Isra, v. 26-27)
Allah Almighty also commands us:
“…But waste not by excess, for Allah loves not the wasters.” (Surah al-An’am, v. 141)
Thus, spending money without consideration is deeply disapproved of and, in many cases, impermissible. A marriage which is celebrated without due consideration of excess expenditure is deprived of Allah’s blessings.
Therefore, in conclusion, weddings should be kept as simple as possible, and without any extravagant and lavish spending. Excessive decoration of the house should be avoided, for that will fall into the category of excessive expenditure (tabzir & israf). However, if the house is decorated slightly in a way that a lot of money is not spent for it, then this would be allowed, although superior to avoid.
And Allah Knows Best
[Mufti] Muhammad ibn Adam
Darul Iftaa
Leicester , UK