Q 4: Complementary to the first question: Your Eminence stated that it is Haram (prohibited) for men to lengthen their clothes and also for women if this is out of arrogance. What is the ruling on a wedding dress that extends for 3 meters behind a bride? What is your opinion also on the money paid to female singers in wedding parties?
A: As for women, the Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet) is to lengthen the dress for a span in order to cover their feet. Increasing more than that is not permissible for the bride or for any one else. Indeed, it is a waste of money to buy expensive clothes. One should seek moderation in clothing; there is no need to embroider it with expensive jewels that cost lots of money, which could instead benefit the Ummah (nation based on one creed) in religious and worldly affairs. It is not permissible to hire female singers. However, if the female singer performs light songs during a period at night to express delight and happiness for the bride, there is no problem in this. Singing and beating the Duff (a tambourinelike instrument without bells) at weddings are permissible and Mustahab (desirable) provided that it does not lead to evil, and is among women only at a time of night without staying awake all night and without loudspeakers. Only regular songs that praise the bride, bridegroom, and their families are to be performed in the presence of women only. This was the tradition at the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet). However, boasting about hiring very expensive female singers is unacceptable and impermissible. So are loudspeakers that harm people and let them stay awake at night and cause them to miss Fajr (Dawn) Prayer. Such reprehensible act should be avoided.