A man receives an invitation card to a wedding; is he obligated to respond?
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The student: .....?
The Shaykh : Do you understand what he is saying? He says a man received an invitation card... Is he obligated to respond or not? If it is for a wedding feast, he must attend... This groom wrote cards and sent them, or if we say that responding to an invitation is obligatory in all cases, as is the apparent position of the Zahiri school.
The student: ...
The Shaykh : It is undoubtedly an invitation, but do we say that it is intended in the true sense? Because sometimes these cards are sent merely as a courtesy; even the host himself is not certain that this man wants to attend. Yes, it is always the case that a person receives twenty cards and is told that this is a genuine invitation... Will you come, or do you have a prior commitment? It is merely a gesture of honor. I doubt that responding to such an invitation is obligatory, except for a person who has a specific right over you, such as a relative, in which case responding is maintaining family ties, because you might not know him. For example, they write five hundred cards and distribute them... whoever comes to mind, they say, "Let's give him a card." I think this is not obligatory.
The student: ...?
The Shaykh : ...If they were returned to him, he would not want from these people except a small number who he genuinely invited. Therefore, he emphasizes to them, saying: "The card we sent you has arrived," and he checks whether they intend to attend or not. It appears to me, and Allah knows best, that these are merely courtesies. This is why those who send them sometimes say "So-and-so, son of So-and-so, and his family," when they do not know the family, and there is no connection, kinship, friendship, or anything between them.
The student: ...?
The Shaykh : ...Originally, if he specified you by name and said, "So-and-so, I want you to attend at my place," and it is a genuine invitation, but if they have a prohibited matter that you cannot remove, then it is not permissible for you to attend, even if he specified you personally. In my view, this is similar to a general call. As you know, a general call is... for example, if he says, "O people, please come," and stands at the mosque door and says, "O people, please come," it is not obligatory for everyone to respond. But if he specifies, then according to the view that it is obligatory in all cases, or obligatory for a wedding feast.
The student: ...?
The Shaykh : Perhaps if you... advise them and admonish them... In any case, they prepare with more than necessary; after the matter of preparation, they prepare with more, and deep down in their hearts...
Affirming the Face for Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He; affirming the Face for Him.
The Shaykh : Do you understand what he is saying? He says a man received an invitation card... Is he obligated to respond or not? If it is for a wedding feast, he must attend... This groom wrote cards and sent them, or if we say that responding to an invitation is obligatory in all cases, as is the apparent position of the Zahiri school.
The student: ...
The Shaykh : It is undoubtedly an invitation, but do we say that it is intended in the true sense? Because sometimes these cards are sent merely as a courtesy; even the host himself is not certain that this man wants to attend. Yes, it is always the case that a person receives twenty cards and is told that this is a genuine invitation... Will you come, or do you have a prior commitment? It is merely a gesture of honor. I doubt that responding to such an invitation is obligatory, except for a person who has a specific right over you, such as a relative, in which case responding is maintaining family ties, because you might not know him. For example, they write five hundred cards and distribute them... whoever comes to mind, they say, "Let's give him a card." I think this is not obligatory.
The student: ...?
The Shaykh : ...If they were returned to him, he would not want from these people except a small number who he genuinely invited. Therefore, he emphasizes to them, saying: "The card we sent you has arrived," and he checks whether they intend to attend or not. It appears to me, and Allah knows best, that these are merely courtesies. This is why those who send them sometimes say "So-and-so, son of So-and-so, and his family," when they do not know the family, and there is no connection, kinship, friendship, or anything between them.
The student: ...?
The Shaykh : ...Originally, if he specified you by name and said, "So-and-so, I want you to attend at my place," and it is a genuine invitation, but if they have a prohibited matter that you cannot remove, then it is not permissible for you to attend, even if he specified you personally. In my view, this is similar to a general call. As you know, a general call is... for example, if he says, "O people, please come," and stands at the mosque door and says, "O people, please come," it is not obligatory for everyone to respond. But if he specifies, then according to the view that it is obligatory in all cases, or obligatory for a wedding feast.
The student: ...?
The Shaykh : Perhaps if you... advise them and admonish them... In any case, they prepare with more than necessary; after the matter of preparation, they prepare with more, and deep down in their hearts...
Affirming the Face for Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He; affirming the Face for Him.