Avoiding Innovations (Bid'ah) in Islam - Part 2
The following innovations and customs should be abstained from:
- To bring the mature (baligh) sister-in-law (bride's sister) in front of the bridegroom, to joke with her, or to hold "chauthi" (a ceremony on the fourth day of the marriage).
- To go and listen to the conversation of the bride and bridegroom while they are in their privacy, to peep at them or to eavesdrop; and if you hear something, to tell it to others.
- To make the bride attend the feast given by the bridegroom and, to force her to sit there to the extent that even her salat is missed.
- To fix exorbitant mehr (dowry) out of pride and boastfulness.
- To weep aloud out of sorrow, or to beat the face and chest, or to cry in a shouting manner.
- To break the containers which were in use at the time of death, or to get the clothes washed which touched the body of the dead.
- Not to prepare pickles, etc. in the house of mourning for about a year or so.
- Not to celebrate any happy or joyous occasion.
- To revive the sorrow or mourning on certain fixed dates.
- To excessively occupy one's self in make-up and self-beautification and to look down upon simplicity.
- To hang pictures and photographs in the house.
- To use gold or silver utensils.
- To wear thin or flimsy clothing, or to wear jingling and tinkling jewelry.
- To wear short skirts.
- To attend the gatherings of men, e.g. processions and fairs.
- To adopt the dressing of the opposite sex.
- To tattoo the body.
- To practice witchcraft and cast spells.
- To hang and suspend carpets from walls and ceilings merely for decoration and beautification.
- To embrace and hug ghair mahrams (those with whom hijab is necessary) at the time of departing or returning from a journey. This does not mean that embracing and hugging them at other times is permissible. Times of arrival and departure have been specifically mentioned because people generally embrace each other at such times.
- To pierce the nose or ear of a male child as an omen for long life.
- To make the male child wear a nose or ear ring, or silk, or saffron-dyed clothes, or any jewelry on the neck, feet or wrists.
- To feed the children with opium (and other similar drugs) in order to keep them quiet.
- To give someone the meat or milk of a lion because of some illness.
There are many other similar incorrect beliefs, customs, and innovations. These have been mentioned to serve as an example.
