Garments for Each Other — Page 26
26 However, I would like to clarify that once these incidents, which shatter the dignity of the Jama’at and Islamic values, are brought to my attention, I take action without exception or discrimination. Therefore, you should eschew these suspicions. Some families hold their separate programs with selected guests after most of the other guests have departed, and indulge in raucous and coarse behavior, including dancing. Dancing to vulgar songs is unacceptable, even if performed only among women or separately among boys. Therefore, today I am telling Ahmadis of Pakistan and India to reform themselves, as Hindu traditions are gaining popularity and making their way into common practice. The administrative system of the Jama’at, as well as auxiliary organizations, should keep a particular eye on weddings and to report any incidents of dancing to movie songs or songs that spread Shirk. They should not be intimidated by a family’s name and relationships. This is the season of weddings in Pakistan and rare complaints have been received. So these few months should be monitored closely and such behavior should be reported wherever it occurs. During wedding season people are influenced by each other. In fact, most of the non-Ahmadi guests who are invited to our weddings appreciate our tradition of beginning with recitation of the Holy Qur’an, followed by recital of devotional poetry and ending with collective silent prayers before the bride is given away. Our tradition is that we send the couple away with prayers for their h appiness and the bestowal of Allah’s blessings. We also pray for the offspring of the marriage to be pious and righteous. In addition to the poems, as I have already said, decent songs may be sung to express joy at a girl’s wedding. However, although the Holy Prophet (saw) mentioned that the Ansari liked singing of songs, he did not say it must be done. He said that if there is a particular ethnicity or a culture that like it and if it does not take one away from religion or bring in innovations which take one closer to Shirk , then there is no harm in it. He did not