Date : 13-08-2014

Question :

What is the ruling on getting married between the two `Eids ?


The Answer :

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds, and may His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all of his family and companions.


Getting married after Eid of Fitr is lawful and recommended during Shawwal.The reprehensibility of concluding the marriage contract or consummating the marriage between the two Eids has no foundation in Islamic Sharee`ah, as this is one of the beliefs of the Jaahiliyyah (The days and traditions of ignorance).


Rather, some Muslim scholars recommend people to get married during the month of Shawwal i.e. between the two Eids. This is based on the Hadith in which ‘Urwah (May Allah have mercy on his soul) reported that ‘Aa’ishah (May Allah be pleased with her) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (pbuh), married me in Shawwaal and consummated the marriage with me in Shawwaal, and which of his wives was more favorable to him than me?” He added: "Aa’ishah  (May Allah be pleased with her)used to recommend her female relatives to conclude their marriage during this month.” [Muslim]. An-Nawawi (May Allah have mercy on his soul) said in his commentary on the Hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah: “It indicates that it is recommended to conclude the marriage contract and to consummate the marriage in Shawwaal.


Fellow scholars say that this recommendation is based on this Hadith by which ‘Aa’ishah wanted to refute the ignorant belief of Jaahiliyyah, and what some of the common folk still believe today – that it is reprehensible to conclude the marriage contract or to consummate the marriage in Shawwaal. This is false and baseless. It is one of the remnants of the Jaahiliyyah, when they used to be superstitious about that because of the connotations of the name of Shawwaal which related to the drying up of the camel’s milk and the lifting of its tail…And Allah knows best.