What is obligatory and what is recommended in responding to a wedding feast invitation
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Responding to an invitation is obligatory, and this refers to the invitation to a wedding feast.Some people specify, saying: Do not forget,Meaning: directly with the eye, and some advise one person to another, saying: "Call so-and-so so that he will come to the wedding feast." Likewise, there is the invitation card. Are all of these obligatory, or is some of it recommended?
The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) say: It is obligatory to respond to a wedding invitation the first time, meaning the first feast, if he is specifically designated, whether by himself, by his agent, or by a card sent to him, on the condition that there is no evil in the feast. If there is evil in it, there is a detailed ruling: if he can prevent the evil by attending, he must attend; if he cannot, it is not permissible for him to attend.
As for cards that are distributed generally without it being known that they were sent to him specifically, it appears that responding to the invitation is not obligatory; because many people send cards to a person merely as a courtesy, or to announce that they have a wedding feast. However, if you know that he sent you this card because he wants you to attend due to kinship between you or friendship, it is obligatory for you to attend.
The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) say: It is obligatory to respond to a wedding invitation the first time, meaning the first feast, if he is specifically designated, whether by himself, by his agent, or by a card sent to him, on the condition that there is no evil in the feast. If there is evil in it, there is a detailed ruling: if he can prevent the evil by attending, he must attend; if he cannot, it is not permissible for him to attend.
As for cards that are distributed generally without it being known that they were sent to him specifically, it appears that responding to the invitation is not obligatory; because many people send cards to a person merely as a courtesy, or to announce that they have a wedding feast. However, if you know that he sent you this card because he wants you to attend due to kinship between you or friendship, it is obligatory for you to attend.