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She wants to live with her husband without having a wedding party

06-09-2011

Question 160719

I would like to live in halal with my partner and live with him before we celebrate the wedding, as hes financially still not ready.
We both live in the same country, but different countries than both of our parents. We did the gotba, but were a long way from celebrating the big and expensive weddding my mother demands.
I assume it is allowed for us to live together after the halal/nikah?
However are we allowed to live together if my mom wants this only to be after the wedding?
Is she able to refuse me, if I am officially married (in front of God)?
We are both alone in this country and we would like to be together - we want our relationship to be halal in front of God and to be together until it is our time to have that big wedding (which we both dont even want).
I hope this could be answered as soon as possible as we will do the halal/nikah soon and we both gave up our rent.

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

Giving a wedding party and inviting people to express joy and announce the marriage, is something that is extra and recommended with regard to marriage, but it is not one of the conditions or essentials. 

The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Proclaim the marriage.” Narrated by Ahmad (15697); classed as hasan by al-Albaani. 

Al-Munaawi said: What is meant by proclaiming it is broadcasting news of it among the people.

End quote from Fayd al-Qadeer, 2/14 

Ibn Qudaamah said: It is mustahabb to announce the marriage and bang the daff (hand drum) for it… so that it will become well known and recognized.

End quote from al-Mughni, 9/467 

Holding a wedding party is one of the most common ways of announcing the marriage. 

There is no doubt that your mother’s request to have a wedding party is the desire of every mother who loves to express joy and celebrate her daughter’s wedding, as well as taking into account people’s traditions and culture. 

So at least have a small party, even if it is limited to the family, at reasonable cost and avoiding extravagance and wasting money. This will please your mother and will also achieve the purpose of announcing and proclaiming the marriage. 

If you cannot do that, there is nothing wrong with you going to live with your husband even if you do not have a wedding party, because the marriage contract is complete and valid so long as it is done with the consent of both spouses and the woman’s guardian, and in the presence of witnesses. 

See also the answer to question no. 2127 

And Allah knows best.

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