Egypt’s Dar Al-Iftaa Clarifies: Feasts in Islam Are Acts of Worship When Free from Extravagance and Prohibited Amusement
Egypt’s Dar Al-Iftaa affirmed that holding feasts on various occasions is permissible and even commendable in Islam when intended as an act of gratitude to God, provided that it avoids extravagance, arrogance, and prohibited forms of entertainment.
Dar Al-Iftaa explained that hosting feasts is a noble social practice in Islam symbolizing gratitude, generosity, and communal harmony. It is a tradition that Islam embraced and refined to promote values of moderation and charity. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) encouraged feeding others and spreading peace, saying: “Feed the hungry, spread peace, and pray at night while people sleep—you will enter Paradise in peace.”
The statement noted that feasts may take various forms, including wedding feasts (walimah), newborn feasts (aqiqah), recovery feasts, travel return feasts, and housewarming feasts, among others. All are permissible when held with pure intentions and free from vanity or waste.
Dar Al-Iftaa added that classical scholars, such as Imam Ibn Tulun, documented the different types of feasts in their writings, emphasizing their social and spiritual significance. Feeding people, it explained, is among the most virtuous acts in Islam as it brings joy, spreads kindness, and strengthens the bonds of brotherhood among Muslims.
However, the institution warned against turning such gatherings into displays of wealth or competition in extravagance, as this contradicts the values of humility and sincerity that Islam promotes. Moderation, it emphasized, is the essence of Islamic conduct: just as miserliness is condemned, so too is excess spending.
Quoting the Qur’an—“And those who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor miserly, but hold a just balance between those extremes”—Dar Al-Iftaa stressed that the best feasts are those organized sincerely for God’s sake, in gratitude, and in service to others.
The statement concluded that anyone who holds a feast with the intention of thanking God and honoring guests without extravagance or forbidden entertainment will be rewarded, as such actions strengthen social solidarity and reflect the mercy and generosity encouraged in Islam.
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