Question:
As salaamu alaikum Respected Alim
Kindly advise what is the Islamic view on having a wedding cake cutting at a wedding reception?
This will take place on the stage in full view of all the guests.
JazakAllah khair
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-Salāmu ‘Alaykum Wa-Rahmatullāhi Wa-Barakātuh.
Whilst Shari’ah allows us to celebrate and rejoice on happy occasions, it discourages us from imitating the ways of the disbelievers.
As such, there is nothing wrong with having and eating a cake. However, the ceremonial cutting of the cake on stage in front of all the guests should be avoided, as this is not an established Islamic practice and is a custom adopted from non-Muslim cultures.
Furthermore, this practice involves other impermissible matters. The bride and groom stand before the gathering; one cuts the cake and feeds it to the other in front of everyone. This involves the bride being exposed to the gaze of non-Mahram men, photography, and the intermingling of men and women. Such practices are contrary to the teachings of Islam and must therefore be avoided.[1]
Note: Our fatwa clarifies the Shari stance on the particular issue. How such matters should be dealt with is a separate issue. Our fatwa should not be used to create friction or point fingers. The manner in which we teach people and encourage them to follow it is equally important as the Sharia ruling itself
And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best.
Abdour-Rahmaan Lim Voon Heek
Student Darul Iftaa
Port-louis, Mauritius
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Muhammad Zakariyya Desai.
