Is Event Management for Weddings Permissible?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

Is decorating the weddings of others, organising food and seating arrangements by taking contracts not extending to music, photography, alcohol and haram food, permissible or not? What about formal parties?

Answer

I pray you are well.

Yes, all of the above things are permissible if one avoids the haram elements you mentioned. The decorations, food, and even light, halal entertainment  such as poetry in praise of Allah and His Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) sung with accompanying sound from a frame drum (daff) is something practically all jurists would agree on. (Maydani; al Lubab)

Celebrating Weddings

Celebrating a wedding is praiseworthy as it is a celebration of the blessing of marriage, which is a blessing for the couple. It also distinguishes a halal union, which is done publicly, from a haram one, which is usually kept secret.

There is also the element of some halal entertainment. This acts as a relief from the stresses of life, and is praiseworthy when done in a proper manner.

The Sunna Encourages Wedding Entertainment

‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) was among some ladies of the Ansar who gave a lady away to her husband on her wedding night. When she told the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) he asked, “Didn’t you have any entertainment? The Ansar enjoy entertainment.” (Bukhari)

A Feast is a Sunna at Weddings

When ‘Abd al Rahman Ibn ‘Awf (Allah be pleased with him) married, the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Hold a feast (walima), even if it is just one sheep.” (Muslim)

Based all of the above, event management for weddings and other permissible functions is permissible as long as you are not organising anything impermissible, such as serving wine. 

Choose the Halal Route

It may seem like the norm to organise events with such haram things, and even tempting if it more lucrative;, but remember, the rizq that will come to you is fixed. Choosing to avoid the haram means of bringing it into your life will being blessings with it, and the pleasure of Allah. All the haram will bring is difficulty, either in this life, or in the next when one is being judged!

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Indeed, the Holy Spirit [Jibril] whispered into my soul that no soul will die until it has received its rizq, and that Allah’s generosity is not attained through disobeying Him. So fear Allah, and seek it well.” (Hakim)

Make an intention to facilitate the application of the sunna and you’ll be rewarded.

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.

And Allah knows best

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History, he moved to Damascus in 2007, where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital. He was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.