Islamic DJs at weddings

************************ In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. ********************** Reflection ************************ The Declining Day (Al-'Asr) 1. By the declining day, 2. Lo! Man is in a state of loss, 3. Save those who believe and do good works, and exhort one another to truth and exhort one another to endurance. *********************** DURING this long school holidays, I attended numerous wedding ‘kenduris’ (feasts); including one ‘kenduri’ held by a relative in Bidor, a small town in Perak. ******************* This one captured my heart, not because of the grand occasion but for the host’s creativeness in bringing in ‘Islamic DJs’ (disc jockeys) to enlighten and brighten the event. ********************** I thought the DJs performed well according to Islamic requirements; they aired reciting of the Qur'an, played mostly ‘nasyid’ (religious) songs softly and in between the songs they read and talked about ‘hadiths’ on love, marriage and stories about homes of chosen Islamic families such as of that of Ali bin Abi Talib and Fatima binti Rasulullah (peace be upon him – s.a.w.) and of course on the homes of Prophet s.a.w. and his wives such as Khadijah and Aishah. ************************ Among the ‘hadiths’ I heard was about Fatima’s complaint to her father (the Prophet) about the hardship in running her household. Ali bin Abi Talib narrated: “Fatima came to the Prophet asking for a servant. He said, "May I inform you of something better than that? When you go to bed, recite "Subhan Allah' thirty three times, 'Alhamdulillah' thirty three times, and 'Allahu Akbar' thirty four times. 'Ali added, 'I have never failed to recite it ever since." Somebody asked, "Even on the night of the battle of Siffin?" He said, "No, even on the night of the battle of Siffin." (Bukhari) ************************ And among the songs they played were ‘The Chosen One’ and ‘Al-Mu’alim’ (The Teacher) by Sammi Yusof. The DJs also recited du’a (prayers) and make announcement of prayer times; read messages from guests and well wishers especially to the ‘pengantin’ (bride and groom) and gave room for a 'nasyid' group to perform live in entertaining the guests. ********************** Well readers, the DJs and MCs ‘employed’ at this relative’s wedding gave fresh looks and ideas compared to the stereotyped ones in mostly Malay wedding feast I have attended. It was usual to bump into a ‘kenduri’ with loud music banging on in the air. It would be deafening and ones faced difficulty in having conversation with other guests or even with the newlyweds or their families. *********************** Since ‘Islamic' DJs and MCs are quite new to me (the one in Bidor was my first ‘encounter’), I searched the internet for this subject and ‘alhamdulillah’ (praise to Allah SWT), I found some helpful information. ********************* There was one enterprise under Alunan-firdausi.blogspot.com (Alunan Firdausi Entertainment) that provides services of Islamic DJs and MCs in the Klang Valley. ********************* With a tagline ‘Hati Ceria, Islam Terpelihara’ (Be Happy, Islam Secure), the enterprise has this to say: “Islamic DJs and MCs do not only means that he must be able to be well versed in Arabic, but more importantly, the values, the ‘akhlak’ and the ‘adab’ (manners) that are being produced and being absorbed directly and indirectly by the audience. ******************** Well, it is about re-branding the stereotype DJ and MC. This enterprise also provides for functions on sharing knowledge about the Qur’an or hadith and for wedding receptions the charges are about RM800 for a five hour sitting. ********************* Regarding hosting a function the Islamic way, a scholar said: “There must not be any form of free mixing in any of the events. Any form of ‘haraam’ is obviously forbidden. Apart from that any form of musical instrument is permissable as long as the lyrics used for it does not contravene ‘Shariah’. ********************* On the international front on this topic, in Muzaffarnagar, India, the News reported that the Muslim clerics of Jamiat Ulema Hind have called for a ban on using DJ and display of dowry goods by community members during weddings' saying it is against Islamic law. ********************* The clerics also appealed the ulemas to avoid performing ‘nikah’ in such marriages. The decision came during a meeting held in which several Muslim clerics were present. The clerics decided to ban DJs and exhibition of dowry goods during marriage saying that it is against the Shariat law. *********************** The clerics who participated in the meeting included President of Utter Pradesh Imam Organisation Mufti Zulfikar, District President of Jamiat Ulema Hind Maulana Nazar Mohammad and District Secretary Maulana Tahir Kasmi. ******************* Still on marriage but from a different aspect of it, an ‘ustaz’ during a ‘tazkirah’ (Islamic lesson) at a masjid near my house recently, gave some advise to would to be grooms and brides and most importantly to their parents. Among the tips were: ******************* · When writing invitation cards, please do not use any quotation from the Qur’an (in Arabic form) including the word ‘Bismillahirrahmanirrahim’ because of the tendency of receivers of the cards to throw away the cards including in dustbins after the said dates. Receivers of ‘kad kahwin’ please do not just throw away the cards. Dispose cards ‘carefully’, if there are words from the Qur’an on it, cut it out first. ******************* · Nowadays, it is norm to mention the word ‘bersanding’ (sitting on the wedding dais ceremony) on cards that would be held it at 1.00-1.30 pm; wouldn't this be the time for ‘Zuhur’ (mid-day) prayers? The ustaz said: “Why not someone make a move to mention in wedding cards that at 1.00-1.30 pm, the hosts would have a break for the ‘Zuhur’ prayers. ********************* · Why must we have a ‘bersanding’ with the ‘tepung tawar’ ceremony if it contradicts with the teaching of Islam? If you would hold one which does not contravene ‘Shariah’ such as having it in a special room where the sexes do not mix and minus the un-Islamic rituals such as the ‘tepung tawar’ , then there is no problem. ******************** · Nowadays there is a tendency for the would-be groom and bride to have a photo session before their ‘nikah’ (solemnization of marriage) and have their intimate pictures put on banners which are displayed at entrances of the respective homes during their ‘kenduri’ days. Avoid this because it is against the teaching of Islam because it is ‘haraam’ for intimacy for a couple who have not performed 'nikah’ or to put their pictures on banners displayed for the public to view. ********************** The ‘ustaz’ said; a marriage is an ‘ibadat’, why must we waste the opportunity to gain rewards from Allah SWT in organizing it; but instead ‘heap upon ourselves sins’ by doing things forbidden by Allah SWT. He said we were just wasting our money, resources and more importantly our time in organizing such a ‘lara’ (wasteful) ways of living. ******************** Allah SWT The Almighty had warned us about the wasting of our time and resources in in Surah Al-Asr (The Time): ****************** 1. By Al-'Asr (the time). 2. Verily! Man is in loss, 3. Except those who believe (in Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth (i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds (Al-Ma'ruf)which Allah has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds (Al-Munkar)which Allah has forbidden), and recommend one another to patience (for the sufferings, harms, and injuries which one may encounter in Allah's Cause during preaching His religion of Islamic Monotheism or Jihad, etc.). ********************* So, please adhere to the teaching of Islam including when holding a wedding reception or feast. Insya-Allah, we would be rewarded handsomely by Allah SWT, the newly weds would have a 'barakah' life; they would have offspring who would uphold the struggle of Islam that would be of much benefit to parents!