STANCE OF HONEYMOON IN ISLĀM

Couples Going On Honeymoon.

Praise be to Allaah. We seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds.

Whomsoever Allaah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.


If we look at honeymoon, we can say it has to do with the place where the couples are spending the honeymoon, and has to be with expenses they'll be spending there.

Without doubt, we all know its a way implemented by the west. And due to the mingling we (Muslim) mingle with them, their lifestyle have crept into ours that we rarely sought religious rulings on what we found ourselves engaged in.

If we look at it from the perspective of places where the couples will be spending the honeymoon; we'll Say it can be sum up to 2:
1- Muslim land
2- Non-muslim land

As for spending the honeymoon in a Muslim land, no doubt that's encouraged and to say the least. I heard of a Nikkāh three years (3 yrs) ago, where the bride ask that her dowry to be paid is her pilgrimage fee. There's no big deal in this if the husband is capable of that.

Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): “Let the rich man spend according to his means, and the man whose resources are restricted, let him spend according to what Allâh has given him. Allâh puts no burden on any person beyond what He has given him” [al-Talaaq 65:7].

As for spending the honeymoon in a non-muslim land, it is worse and more reprehensible, because it will lead to neglectful of many religious matters.

Plus, after which they come back, they'll be back with habits and customs that are harmful to them and to their society. These are matters which are dangerous to the Ummah.

But if the man were to travel with his wife to do ‘Umrah or to visit Madinah, there is nothing wrong with that, In Shā Allāh as I've earlier explained above.

As for the expenses. Honeymoons that we've heard about, no doubt are always on the verge of extravagant.

And we already know, Islamically speaking, extravagance is not allowed and is blameworthy in all matters, whether it has to do with marriage or otherwise. What is prescribed in Islam is that the individual should not make things difficult for himself and should not burden himself with more than he can bear. Rather he should spend according to his means and what he is able to afford, whilst avoiding extravagance and going to extremes in spending.

The general principle according to which a man should conduct his spending is the same general principle according to which he should conduct his life, which is the middle way and moderation.

Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): “And those, who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor niggardly, but hold a medium (way) between those (extremes)” [al-Furqaan 25:67].

But this does not mean that spending on wedding parties and marriage should be like spending on ordinary days, for example. Of course this is not appropriate; rather it is prescribed to spend more generously than usual at this time. For that reason it is Sunnah for a man to offer a feast at his wedding and to invite people to it. This is an expense that is greater than usual, but what matters, as we have said, is to avoid extravagance and wasteful spending in all of that. Each individual should pay attention to his own situation and what he can afford.

Peace and Blessing of Allaah be upon Muhammad (sallaLlāhu ‘alayhi wasallam). May Allaah forgive us where we might have erred. And Allaah is the source of strength and He (alone) knows best!