‘Ladies only’ lunch and tea
Question:-
Ladies organizations host “ladies only” lunches or high teas to raise funds. Females are required to adopt a specific dress code; female speakers are invited to address the attendees. The function boasts of lavish food and exotic décor, whilst the tickets to the function are extremely expensive. Photos and videos of the event are taken. Are these functions permissible?
Answer:-
We do not approve of such events whereby women are driven out of the home, as the Quraan Sharif categorically commands them to remain within the confines of their homes. They are only permitted to leave due to necessity.
Yes, their intentions may be noble in trying to raise funds for the community or for certain projects, but this is in no way a valid reason for them to emerge from their homes.
Also, when arranging these lunches or teas, they are required to engage in conversation with caterers, cooks etc. who are sometimes males. We are, unfortunately, living in a time when just a single joke or message is sufficient to spark up such Fitna that results in the breakdown of homes and communities. We should be foreseeing of the consequences of our actions particularly when we are living in an era of vice and evil. If the intention is really to raise funds, then why can’t the men arrange for meals to be cooked and the households may then purchase it from them for their families? In this way, they will be supporting the project whilst the entire family enjoys the meal together within the privacy of their homes. In fact, the actual way of raising funds is by encouraging people to spend for the cause of Deen and receive absolutely no recompense in return. The donors reward lies solely with Allah Ta’ala which he will reap in the hereafter Insha’Allah. The Quraan Sharif states, “You will never attain virtue until you spend from that which you love.” [Surah Aa’le Imraan, Verse 92]
When the Shariah has stipulated the dress code of women when emerging from their homes on the basis of necessity, how can this now be substituted with the dressing of the disbelievers! Hadrat Umar Radiallahu Anhu would say, “We are a nation whom Allah had honoured on the basis of Islam. If we ever seek honour in anything other than Islam, then Allah Ta’ala will humiliate us.” Are we not lowering our status and humiliating ourselves by adopting kuffaar ways, customs, dressing, lifestyle etc.? Unfortunately, we have lost direction to such an extent that we regard a western lifestyle, which is pure destruction, as progress, hence, we will go to the extent of taking Haraam photographs and boast of our dressing.
There are perhaps millions of people that do not even have bread on their tables while we are squandering hundreds, and perhaps, thousands on scrumptious exotic meals. Indulging in rich, exotic foods result in various illnesses and perhaps hundreds of thousands are then spent on treatment. To balance our cholesterol levels and sugar levels, females then jog on the roads and frequent the gyms, which again, comes with its various forms of Fitnas, all because of adopting an extravagant lifestyle. Is it really intelligence to derive enjoyment for just a few moments and then consequently suffer perpetually? Thousands are spent on décor just for a single lunch or tea, whereas it serves no real purpose except for some beautification. Our employees who work for us for a meager salary are observing us squandering all these funds, yet we don’t have sufficient to pay them a livable salary.
May Allah Ta’ala guide the Ummah and grant us the understanding. When the Ummah will regard medication as poison, and poison as medication, then who else can we complain to except Allah Ta’ala?
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date: 09 Muharram 1444 / 08 August 2022