Concluding the marriage contract between the two `Eids

A: A man may contract and consummate his marriage on any day of the year unless he is in a state of Ihram (ritual state for Hajj and ‘Umrah). During Ihram, it is not permissible to get married or contract marriage for oneself or for others. Prohibiting contracting marriage between ‘Eid-ul-Fitr and ‘Eidul-Adha, or on any other day, has no Shar‘y (Islamic legal) grounds. Rather, the Prophet (peace be upon him) is authentically reported to have contracted marriage with ‘Aishah in Shawwal, and consummated the marriage also in Shawwal. This is supported by the Hadith related by Imam Muslim and others, on the authority of ‘Urwah (may Allah be pleased with him), who reported ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) as saying: 'The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) married me and consummated the marriage with me in Shawwal, and who among the wives of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was more fortunate with him than I.' `Aishah also liked that the women of her family should enter their houses as brides during Shawwal. (A similar Hadith was reported by Al-Tirmidhy, Imam Ahmad in his Musnad, (Part No. 19; Page No. 161) Al-Nasa’y, and ibn Majah) `Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) liked that the women of her family would consummate their marriage during the month of Shawwal so as to follow the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace be upon him) and to put an end to Jahilyyah-related practices and the false beliefs of some laypeople that contracting and consummating marriage in Shawwal is Makruh (disliked). Actually, such a belief is unsound and groundless. Rather, it is one of the superstitious habits of the people of Jahiliyyah who used to see an evil omen in the name of Shawwal, which carries that connotation of the drying up of camel’s milk and the lifting up of its tail. Ibn Sa‘d stated in Al-Tabaqat: "They hated this month because of a plague that took place during it, and therefore regarded it as ominous." Thus, one should follow the teachings of the Qur’an, the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him), and the practices of his Sahabah (Companions), in which all goodness is found. A Muslim should discard anything that contradicts them, all Jahiliyyah-related customs, and opinions of ignorant people, paying them no attention. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.