What is the ruling on what is called the unveiling of the girl during the celebration among women?
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The questioner : We return to a message sent by the listener Saha Ahmad from the United Arab Emirates, who says: “May the Shaykh be respected, what is the ruling on what is called the unveiling of the girl during the celebration among women? We ask you to provide us with information. May Allah reward you with good.”
The Shaykh : The unveiling of the woman on her wedding night, if it is done in a manner that does not include anything forbidden, is permissible. For example, the newly married woman is brought in wearing clothes that do not contradict the Shari'ah, and she sits on a platform so that the women can see her, provided there is no mixture of men among the women and her husband is not with her. In this case, there is nothing wrong with it, because the original ruling for matters other than acts of worship is permissibility, except for what evidence has established as forbidden.
However, if the woman comes to the women with her husband, or if there are men present in the gathering of women, then it is not permissible, because this includes a religious prohibition.
Furthermore, it is regrettable that in some cases, or as a custom of some people, the husband attends this gathering with his wife. He may kiss her in front of the women, or feed her sweets, or do similar things. There is no doubt that this is foolishness; foolishness in terms of reason and a prohibition in terms of the Shari'ah.
As for the foolishness in terms of reason, how is it fitting for a person, at the first meeting with his wife, to meet her in front of women, kiss her, or feed her sweets or similar things? Is this not a cause that arouses the desire of the women? There is no doubt about this.
As for the religious aspect, the common practice is that the women celebrating are uncovered in the face and exposed before this man. On the wedding night, in the excitement of the wedding, they are perfumed and adorned, which leads to fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). There may also be harm to the wife herself, as the husband might see among the celebrating women someone who is more beautiful or more splendid than his wife. Then his heart becomes attached to what he saw, and the value of his wife decreases in his eyes. At that time, it becomes a calamity for him, for the wife, and for her family. So beware, beware of this bad custom. It is sufficient if they want the woman to appear alone before the women, as was the custom from ancient times in some regions. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you, O honorable Shaykh.
The Shaykh : The unveiling of the woman on her wedding night, if it is done in a manner that does not include anything forbidden, is permissible. For example, the newly married woman is brought in wearing clothes that do not contradict the Shari'ah, and she sits on a platform so that the women can see her, provided there is no mixture of men among the women and her husband is not with her. In this case, there is nothing wrong with it, because the original ruling for matters other than acts of worship is permissibility, except for what evidence has established as forbidden.
However, if the woman comes to the women with her husband, or if there are men present in the gathering of women, then it is not permissible, because this includes a religious prohibition.
Furthermore, it is regrettable that in some cases, or as a custom of some people, the husband attends this gathering with his wife. He may kiss her in front of the women, or feed her sweets, or do similar things. There is no doubt that this is foolishness; foolishness in terms of reason and a prohibition in terms of the Shari'ah.
As for the foolishness in terms of reason, how is it fitting for a person, at the first meeting with his wife, to meet her in front of women, kiss her, or feed her sweets or similar things? Is this not a cause that arouses the desire of the women? There is no doubt about this.
As for the religious aspect, the common practice is that the women celebrating are uncovered in the face and exposed before this man. On the wedding night, in the excitement of the wedding, they are perfumed and adorned, which leads to fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). There may also be harm to the wife herself, as the husband might see among the celebrating women someone who is more beautiful or more splendid than his wife. Then his heart becomes attached to what he saw, and the value of his wife decreases in his eyes. At that time, it becomes a calamity for him, for the wife, and for her family. So beware, beware of this bad custom. It is sufficient if they want the woman to appear alone before the women, as was the custom from ancient times in some regions. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you, O honorable Shaykh.