What is the ruling on responding to a wedding invitation?
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The questioner : His EminenceThe Shaykh : Is responding to an invitation a recommended practice or obligatory?
The Shaykh : Which invitation? An invitation to a wedding feast?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for the invitation to a wedding, responding to it is obligatory, provided that he is specifically invited, such as saying, "So-and-so, please attend." The second condition is that there be no harm in responding. The third condition is that there be no wrongdoing in the place. If there is wrongdoing, and he is able to change it, he must attend to respond to the invitation and to forbid the wrongdoing. If he is not able to change it, he should not respond.
As for invitations other than the wedding feast, most scholars hold that responding is a recommended practice and not obligatory. Some scholars said that it is obligatory, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Therefore, a person should not fail to respond to an invitation except for a valid excuse.
The Shaykh : Which invitation? An invitation to a wedding feast?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for the invitation to a wedding, responding to it is obligatory, provided that he is specifically invited, such as saying, "So-and-so, please attend." The second condition is that there be no harm in responding. The third condition is that there be no wrongdoing in the place. If there is wrongdoing, and he is able to change it, he must attend to respond to the invitation and to forbid the wrongdoing. If he is not able to change it, he should not respond.
As for invitations other than the wedding feast, most scholars hold that responding is a recommended practice and not obligatory. Some scholars said that it is obligatory, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):