Greeting Sleeping Headmen for the Sake of the Nikah

Question

Ours is a large quarter with twelve headmen. The custom here is that when a wedding takes place, the groom goes round at night, waking them from their sleep and greeting them with the salam; otherwise these people obstruct the nikah. Is this ruling established by the Shari‘a?

Answer

This custom exists nowhere — neither in the Noble Qur’an, nor in the hadith, nor in fiqh. It is not the Islamic way; it is sheer ignorance. Abandoning it is necessary. [ar]مَنْ أَحدثَ فِي دِينِنَا هذا ما ليس منه فهو رد[/ar] “Whoever introduces into this religion of ours what is not of it, it is rejected” (agreed upon — muttafaq ‘alayh).

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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