"There are many practices, customs and habits in Muslim societies, which change from time to time. As long as they don't encroach into the area which is Haram (unlawful), there is no restriction on them". - Sayyed Mutawalli Ad-Darsh (1930 - 1997)
Name of Questioner
Sa`ed - Egypt
Title
Can Muslims Go on Honeymoon?
Question
Scholars of Islam, As-Salamu `Alaykum wa Rahamtullah wa Barakatuh. Many Muslims go on honeymoon, but I see no evidence for this in the Qur'an or the Prophet’s hadiths. Isn't this blind aping of the West or are there benefits attached to such a practice?
Date
27/Feb/2003
Topic
Customs & Traditions
Answer
Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Brother, first of all, let’s commend your deep reflection on the Book of Allah, the Qur’an, and the Sunnah of His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) which is manifested in your question.
Islam is a practical religion; it does not float in the stratosphere of imaginary ideals but remains with the human being on the ground of realities and day-to-day concerns. It does not regard people as angels but accepts them as mortals who eat food and walk in the marketplace. Islam does not require of Muslims that their speech should consist entirely of religious utterances, that their silence should be a meditation, that they should listen to nothing except the recitation of the Qur'an, nor that they should spend all their leisure time in the mosque. Rather, it recognizes that Allah has created human beings with needs and desires, so that, as they need to eat and drink, they also need to relax, and to enjoy themselves.
Focusing more on the question in point, we’d cite the following fatwa issued by the late **Sheikh Sayyed Mutawalli Ad-Darsh, former Chairman of the UK Shari`ah Council:
“First, we should not expect the Glorious Qur'an to be a prescription for every detail of things that happen in our day-to-day life. The Glorious Qur'an deals essentially with Allah's attributes and our relationship with Him. As it sets universal moral precepts that regulate life affairs, it also guides us to what will grant us salvation in the life to come. So, the Glorious Qur’an is mainly for the moral enhancement of society. The Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) takes care of so many things.
There are many practices, customs and habits in Muslim societies, which change from time to time. As long as they don't encroach into the area which is Haram (unlawful), there is no restriction on them and we say they are subject to the changing requirements of society.
Things invented shortly after the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) include soap, new methods of sifting flour, the table and towels. These weren't considered bad because they are dealing with our ordinary day-to-day affairs.
As regards honeymooning, if a couple would like to relax and be far away from the distractions of family and friends, there is no harm. In fact, we can say that Western society is aping the Muslims on this, for we have a basis for honeymooning. It is Sunnah for the newly-married couple to spend seven days together, and it is beneficial for them to go out and enjoy this period of their life together to build a basis for all the trials and difficulties they will experience later on.”
Excerpted, with slight modifications, from: http://www.iol.ie/~afifi/Ad-Darsh/16.8.96.htm
You can also read:
Having Candles in a Wedding: Un-Islamic?
The Use of Henna for Men and Women in Weddings
Allah Almighty knows best.
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Definitions of honeymoon on the Web:
- a holiday taken by a newly married couple;
- the early (usually calm and harmonious) period of a business or political relationship;
- a honeymoon is the traditional holiday taken by newly-weds to celebrate their marriage in intimacy and seclusion.
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**
Egyptian born Syed Mutawalli was educated at Al-Azhar University where later on he was appointed an Imam and lecturer in the university’s faculty of theology. Then, he went on to teach and do missionary work in Lagos, Nigeria and in 1971 became an Imam at the Islamic Cultural Centre in Regent’s Park Mosque, London.
In 1980 Syed Mutawalli became a columnist and broadcaster in London. He was co-founder and trustee of Muslim Aid, a patron of the Federation of Student Islamic Societies in the UK and Eire and The Muslim Student Societies, a friend of women’s An-Nisa and Association of Muslims with Disabilities. He was Secretary of the UK Islamic Sharia Council.
Syed Mutawalli had training in the traditional Islamic sciences, combined with his grassroots experience, practical wisdom and courage to deal with real issues head-on. Highly respected, approachable and sensitive man who conducted his affairs with dignity and style and who guided British Muslims in their struggle to build a vibrant and dynamic community.
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