Is it permissible to give cards on any occasions e.g. wedding,congrats,get well soon. Also are decoration permissible for such occasions e.g. balloons ect.

Question:

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

As Muslims we should endeavour to practice the Sunnah to the best of our ability. On occasions such as weddings etc. the most appropriate way would be to invite friends and family personally. If not then one may send a letter of invitation.

Likewise, one may give cards for weddings, get well soon etc. on condition that the cards are simple and moderate. The occasion must also be a permissible one, hence it is not permissible to give cards for birthdays, Christmas etc.

Decoration for weddings etc. is also permissible as long as such decorations are moderate and not extravagant. Islam forbids us from being extravagant. The implementation of moderation and abstinence from extravagance has also been emphasised in many Verses of the Holy Quran.

وكلوا واشربوا ولا تسرفوا إنه لا يحب المسرفين

Eat and drink and do not be extravagant. Surely, He does not like the extravagant.(Verse: 7:31)

إن المبذرين كانوا إخوان الشياطين وكان الشيطان لربه كفورا

Surely, squanderers (the extravagant) are brothers of satans, and the Satan is very ungrateful to his Lord.(Verse: 17:27)

والذين إذا أنفقوا لم يسرفوا ولم يقتروا وكان بين ذلك قواما

(The true servants of Allah are) those who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor miserly, and it (i.e. their spending) is moderate in between (the two extremes).(Verse: 25:67)

Mufti Shafi (Rahimahullah) explains that this ruling of moderation is not restricted only to eating and drinking, but will apply in clothing, living standards and every other aspect of life.[1]

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mufti Arshad Ali

[1] (Ma’arif al-Quran (English Translation) Vol.3 Pg.569/570 – Maktabah Darul Uloom Karachi)