The following is a Fatwa (no. 8854) from The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta in Saudi Arabia (al-Lajnah al-Da’imah) headed by Shaykh Abdul-Aziz ibn Baz:

Question:

What is the Islamic ruling on wedding ceremonies in which the groom is brought to his bride in a gathering of women, and he appears on a stage and sits beside his bride so that the women can see him? Naturally, he will also see women who are non-mahrams to him while they are fully adorned. Is this practice, in which the bride and groom sit together on a stage, permissible?

If it is customary for women to participate in playing the duff and drums at wedding ceremonies to announce and celebrate the marriage, how should we men, who feel protective jealousy concerning our womenfolk, deal with the situation in which a newly married man who is a non-mahram to them appears on the wedding stage? According to our customs and traditions, he must go up onto the stage. What should the women who are non-mahrams to him do at that moment?

I respectfully request that Your Eminence clarify the Islamic ruling on this matter and guide us towards what is good and righteous through a written fatwa that everyone can read, so that people may have clear insight into their religion, morals, and customs.

Answer:

The groom appearing on a stage beside his wife in front of women who are non-mahrams to him and who have attended the wedding ceremony, with him looking at them and them looking at him, while everyone is fully adorned and dressed in their finest adornments, is impermissible. Rather, it is an evil that must be condemned and put to an end by those who have authority over the bride and groom, as well as the walis of the women who attended the wedding ceremony. Each person must restrain those placed under their care from such actions.

It must also be condemned by the general authorities, including the rulers, scholars, and bodies responsible for enjoining the good and forbidding the evil, each according to their ability, whether through authority or guidance.

Also the use of drums (except the duff) and all other prohibited practices that take place at such ceremonies must likewise be condemned.

We ask Allah, the Exalted, to grant everyone success in attaining His pleasure, to protect us from indecencies, both apparent and hidden, and to inspire everyone with sound judgement.

With Allah lies all success. May Allah send His blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.