Islamic Ruling: Missing Salah on Your Wedding Day New

Is Prayer (Salah) Excused on the Wedding Day? The Islamic Perspective

Prayer is the greatest pillar of Islam; it is absolutely not permissible for any Muslim to show even an iota of laziness or negligence in fulfilling such a magnificent and most important obligation as prayer. In the Glorious Quran and Prophetic Hadiths, the importance and virtue of prayer have been emphasized in countless places. Allah the Almighty said in the Glorious Quran:

{حَـٰفِظُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلصَّلَوَ ٰ⁠تِ} - [البقرة : ٢٣٨]

“Guard the prayers strictly.”

Similarly, the Noble Prophet ﷺ has emphasized offering prayer in every condition. He said:

“صَلِّ قَائِمًا، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَسْتَطِعْ فَقَاعِدًا، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَى جَنْبٍ”.

“Pray standing; if you are not able to, then sitting; and if you are not even capable of that, then lying on your side.” [Sahih al-Bukhari: 1117]

But it is a matter of immense regret that despite these clear texts, many of our sisters intentionally abandon their prayers on their wedding day due to makeup, dresses, and the busyness of the ceremonies. This act is extremely grave according to the Shari’ah and entirely wrong.

Whoever has committed this shortcoming in the past, it is obligatory upon her to immediately repent to Allah with a sincere heart and turn back to Him; because intentionally abandoning the prayer is a highly detestable act in the sight of Allah.

O my dear and valued sisters!

Remember! Prayer takes precedence over everything. No excuse is acceptable that would justify leaving the prayer on the wedding day. Furthermore, your thought that “we will pray all the prayers together after going home” is a huge misconception and a deception from Satan. In this regard, when Sheikh Muhammad bin Salih al-Uthaymeen, may Allah have mercy on him, was asked: “If a woman leaves the Maghrib prayer on her wedding night and makes it up later at another time, what is the ruling on this?”

In response to this, the Sheikh, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

“Doing so is absolutely not permissible. It is obligatory for the woman to offer both the Maghrib and Isha prayers (even though the questioner only mentioned Maghrib), whereas in the busyness of the wedding, the fear of missing the Isha prayer is greater than that of Maghrib. Nevertheless, it is obligatory upon her to offer both the Maghrib and Isha prayers, and it is strictly impermissible for her to delay these prayers beyond their prescribed times, because doing so contradicts gratitude for the blessing of Allah the Almighty which He has bestowed upon her in the form of marriage.” [Silsilat Fatawa Noor ‘Ala al-Darb, Cassette No. (4)]

Just think! When prayer is obligatory even upon a severely ill person, and he is commanded to offer the prayer in whatever condition is possible for him, then how can it be correct and permissible to abandon the prayer for a healthy woman who is in an environment full of joy and is about to start a new and pure life?

Rather, the importance of prayer increases even more on such an occasion, because she hopes for blessings, mercy, and a successful marital life from Allah.

For God’s sake! Take special care to guard your prayers on the joyous occasion of your wedding. Try your best to ensure that your prayer is not lost under any circumstance. Start your new life not with the disobedience of Allah, but by prostrating before Him, so that goodness and blessings may be included in your married life.

Umm Muhammad Khushnuma Muslehuddin
Umm al-Qura University, Makkah al-Mukarramah