Shun lavish weddings, elders tell Muslims

Hyderabad: The holy month of Ramzan has concluded recently and it marked the beginning of the marriage season amongst the members of the Muslim community.

Nonetheless, the humility of the month gave way to the lavish and extravagant weddings. Despite calls by reformers to shed the practice, there is no respite, on the other hand according to some observers, the spending on these weddings have only gone up.

Time and again, there have been calls given by community elders to boycott such lavish weddings. One activist, who works exclusively to discourage the community from engaging in lavish weddings and campaigns against the practice of dowry, Dr Aleem Khan Falaki feels that the solution lies within the society at large which is facing the brunt at different levels unmindful of the large picture.

"Such marriages are not according to Sunnat (practised and preached by Prophet). Boycotting such weddings is the only solution," said Dr Aleem Falaki, who also leads the NGO, Socio Reforms Society.

On an average 100 marriages per day during season

While opposing this type of lavish marriages which are not allowed in the Muslim community, he pointed out that as soon as Ramzan concludes, on an average, 100 weddings are going on in a day.

In these weddings none of the families are following the true Islamic practices, said Aleem Falaki. "Now-a-days weddings have become an event to show-off and the societal pressure has put everyone to flaunt, even it means huge borrowings or taking loans. In this competition, families are spending lakhs of rupees in a single night," he pointed out.

Explaining the scenario, Aleem Falaki said for performing a marriage in a middle-class family, they spend a minimum of Rs 50,000 for renting a function hall and there are many who also spend lakhs of rupees. For a 'Groom's car' an amount, anywhere between Rs 20,000 to 25,000 is being spent along with its decoration, as many of them prefer for an expensive high-end luxury cars.

The dinner which has a large variety of dishes costs at least Rs 2 lakh and money is also spent for stage decoration of the bride and groom. Apart from this, lakhs of rupees are also being spent in many other related functions which are not according to the Quran and Sunnah, he argues.

Noble exercise turned into a grand event

"Wedding is a Sunnat, it's a kind of worship and for worshipping there should be no expenditure. In olden days, the marriages were fixed between the couple because of the character and reputation he or she held in the eyes of others.

But now-a-days, the criterion has completely changed and the preference is money, power, post, etc. As a result, a noble exercise is being turned into an event filled with boastful people", said Ilyas Shamsi, Qatib of a Masjid and president of Reformers Front of India.

For showing-off and societal pressure people are spending lakhs of money and making a wedding into an event, where thousands of people are gathered. In this gathering there are many friends, leaders, politicians etc. which is devoid of Islam teachings. "There are many a families who are concluding this simple task and as per Sunnat.

Attending this kind of marriage would be noble exercise, where the families ensure they does not indulge in extravaganza, which is rare now," he added.

What is the Solution

According to Aleem Falaki, the only way to eradicate this evil is by sticking to what Quran and Sunnat has ordained and completely boycotting such type of weddings.

"When anyone invites you, please make sure if the amount being spent for the dinner is taken from bride's side (which is not according to Sunnat). If yes, then have the courage to say boldly on his face.

My dear! I am very sorry, I cannot attend such wedding's as these weddings are against the teachings of Almighty and Prophet Mohammed", said Dr Aleem Khan Falaki.

He also said, "Please do remember that to accept the invitation is Sunnat, but if the ceremony involves any forbidden acts, innovations, extravagance, show-off and competition or if the income being spent is earned from immoral ways or the money is coming from interest, it is a moral obligation to boycott these weddings."