Islam's Response to Contemporary Issues — Page 193
Economic Peace 193 Matrimonial Expense The style of marriage ceremonies between the rich and poor families can be a sensitive area which may cause terrible anguish and heartache to the poor parents with daughters of marriageable age. Lavish wedding receptions with a grand display of pomp, opulence and pageantry are roundly condemned in Islam. In fact, we observe from the early history of Islam that wedding ceremonies were so simple as to appear colourless events in the sight of many. Although influenced by the customs and tradition of the surrounding societies, many innovations and malpractices have crept into Muslim marriage styles of the rich, and basic formal ceremony remains exactly the same–plain, simple and inexpensive for the rich and poor alike. The announcement of marriage i. e. Nik ah is pronounced mostly in mosques in the presence of all and sundry and where the rich and poor are gathered alike. The mosque is a house of worship and is no place for pompous display. As far as the reception feasts and other related expressions of joy are concerned, the rich are very firmly warned that any feast to which the poor have not been invited is cursed in the sight of God. Thus, amongst the most well dressed richest members of society, you will find the most poorly dressed poor people mixing freely with the rich—a grand eye opener for the rich and a special opportunity for the poor to taste some of the delicacies, fruits and dishes of the wealthy people.