understand that at the home where the girl was to stay after marriage, there is no longer any space for her to even sit; there was a home, but it was lost to usury, now after coming under difficulty, husband and wife begin to quarrel. If this continues for some time, then it eventually ends in an all-out feud; was this a wedding or an announcement of war. We accept that it is a time of joy and such days are witnessed after waiting for a long time, no doubt, one should celebrate, but exceeding the boundaries and limits of the Shari’ah is not the job of an intelligent person. (Bahar-e-Shari’at, vol. 2, pp. 106)

Singing and music

Dear Islamic sisters! Generally speaking, it is a tradition in many homes to gather one’s relatives and other local females in order to play the drum and sing. This is Haraam; as firstly, playing the drum itself is Haraam, then the females singing, and on top of that, their voices reaching non-Mahrams, particularly their singing voices. Those women who usually consider it wrong for their voices to be heard outside of the home, they also participate in such gatherings, as if, according to them, there is no harm in singing songs, regardless of how far their voices reach. Also, young unmarried girls also take part. How much effect will this singing and listening to these songs have on their emotions, character and habits; these are not things that are in need of any explanation or proof. (Derived from Bahar-e-Shari’at, vol. 3, pp. 105, summarised)

The Mehndi tradition

Similarly, there is the tradition of Mehndi in which young girls wear un-Islamic clothing, whilst not covered properly, roaming the marketplaces and alleyways with containers of henna, and then go to the bride or groom’s house and take part in a “private” gathering