What is the ruling on the wedding dress, the engagement ring, and the *shir'ah*?
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The questioner : May I ask, O honorable Shaykh, about the wedding dress, the engagement ring, and the *shir'ah*. What is their ruling in the Shari'ah, in your view? May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : The wedding dress is permissible, provided it does not include a forbidden act, that is, a prohibited act. This is because the original ruling regarding clothing, in terms of its type, quantity, and manner, is permissibility. A person may wear whatever he wishes, wear as many garments as he wishes, and wear them in whatever manner he wishes. This is the original ruling.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Unless there is something that takes it out of this original ruling, such as wearing clothing in a style that only disbelievers wear. In that case, it is not permissible for a person to wear a style or clothing that only disbelievers wear, because he would then be imitating them. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:Sunan Abi Dawud 4031Hasan Sahih (Al-Albani).
Likewise, it is not permissible for a woman to wear clothing that only men wear, and it is not permissible for a man to wear clothing that only women wear, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih al-Bukhari 5885.
And if the style is free from a prohibited style, the original ruling is permissibility. Accordingly, the wedding dress that women wear, which is the loose, wide white dress, is permissible and there is no blame on them for it.
The questioner : Very well.
The Shaykh : Because this is the original ruling, and we do not know that there is any imitation of the polytheists or disbelievers in it, nor does it resemble men's clothing.
As for the *shir'ah*, the *shir'ah* is of two types. The first type is when the husband is with the wife on the stage. This is forbidden, and it is not permissible to do it. It is not permissible for the husband to do that, nor for the wife's family to allow him to do it. For the appearance of men before women in this situation is a great trial.
As for the second type of *shir'ah*, it is when the wife stands alone on the stage in front of the women. This is permissible and there is no blame on her for it, because there is no concern in it, as far as we know. And if it is determined that there is a concern in it, the ruling revolves with its cause, so it would be prohibited. But it does not appear to us that there is a concern in it. Accordingly, it is permissible for a woman to stand on the stage in front of women. And success is from Allah.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. Regarding the engagement ring, O honorable Shaykh?
The Shaykh : As for the engagement ring, the original ruling is that rings are permissible.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : But considering that this ring is said to be adopted from the customs of the Christians, if this is established, it is better to avoid it. Yes.
The Shaykh : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge, and benefit the Muslims through you.
The Shaykh : The wedding dress is permissible, provided it does not include a forbidden act, that is, a prohibited act. This is because the original ruling regarding clothing, in terms of its type, quantity, and manner, is permissibility. A person may wear whatever he wishes, wear as many garments as he wishes, and wear them in whatever manner he wishes. This is the original ruling.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Unless there is something that takes it out of this original ruling, such as wearing clothing in a style that only disbelievers wear. In that case, it is not permissible for a person to wear a style or clothing that only disbelievers wear, because he would then be imitating them. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
He who copies any people is one of them.
من تشبّه بقوم فهو منهمLikewise, it is not permissible for a woman to wear clothing that only men wear, and it is not permissible for a man to wear clothing that only women wear, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
cursed those men who are in the similitude (assume the manners) of women and those women who are in the similitude (assume the manners) of men
لعن المتشبهين من الرجال بالنساء، والمتشبهات من النساء بالرجالAnd if the style is free from a prohibited style, the original ruling is permissibility. Accordingly, the wedding dress that women wear, which is the loose, wide white dress, is permissible and there is no blame on them for it.
The questioner : Very well.
The Shaykh : Because this is the original ruling, and we do not know that there is any imitation of the polytheists or disbelievers in it, nor does it resemble men's clothing.
As for the *shir'ah*, the *shir'ah* is of two types. The first type is when the husband is with the wife on the stage. This is forbidden, and it is not permissible to do it. It is not permissible for the husband to do that, nor for the wife's family to allow him to do it. For the appearance of men before women in this situation is a great trial.
As for the second type of *shir'ah*, it is when the wife stands alone on the stage in front of the women. This is permissible and there is no blame on her for it, because there is no concern in it, as far as we know. And if it is determined that there is a concern in it, the ruling revolves with its cause, so it would be prohibited. But it does not appear to us that there is a concern in it. Accordingly, it is permissible for a woman to stand on the stage in front of women. And success is from Allah.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. Regarding the engagement ring, O honorable Shaykh?
The Shaykh : As for the engagement ring, the original ruling is that rings are permissible.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : But considering that this ring is said to be adopted from the customs of the Christians, if this is established, it is better to avoid it. Yes.
The Shaykh : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge, and benefit the Muslims through you.