Can I Get Married, Buy a House or a Car During Muharram?

During the months of Muharram and Safar, people often ask whether they’re allowed to buy a house or a car, buy new clothes, get married etc?Shaykh Mohammed Al-Hilli presents the answer in accordance with the ruling of Ayatollah Sistani.

The months of Muharram and Safar are special months of the year for the followers of the Ahlul Bayt, alayhihum as-salam, whereby they express their grief over the martyrdom of Imam Al-Husayn, and all those who were with him. At the same time, people often wonder and ask what is allowed and what is not during this period? I.e., Are people allowed to move houses for example? Buy new clothes? Get married? Or indeed get a new business acquisition or a new job, for example?

Before presenting the answer given by Ayatullah Al-Sistani, hafizu Allah, it is important to understand at the outset the difference between a categorical ruling, i.e. something that is prohibited or permissible, and what is suitable or recommended for a believer to do in accordance with the instructions from the Ahlul Bayt, alayhihum as-salam. Whilst the latter may not be necessarily obligatory, it still needs to be taken into consideration when deciding what to do in certain circumstances.

In terms of this area, it is not haram to do what has been mentioned, i.e. move house or buy new clothes in Muharram and Safar, except if this is generally considered by the people as sanctity violation known as Hatk al-Hurma. For example, having parties, getting married or other celebrations, for instance, on the day of Ashura is clearly seen as a violation of the day of grief and sorrow for the Ahlul Bayt, alayhihum as-salam. And this therefore would potentially be haram. It is also disappointing to see some people holding gatherings of celebrations in the two months Muharram and Safar.

Regarding other things like buying a new house, wearing new clothes, as long as they’re not specifically on the days of the tragedies of the Ahlul Bayt, like Ashura and Arba’een, then it is permissible. But and this is important to note also, it is mentioned by his Eminence that if we have, for example, lost a family member or a close friend, we normally wouldn’t do certain things. And likewise, we should be observant of the same on the days of the sorrow of the Ahlul Bayt .

So, in conclusion, and as ruling of many of our Maraja’, we need to make a distinction between that which causes violation of the sacredness of these days, like I personally believe, celebrations and marriage, which must not take place in Muharram and Safar, and some other things, like, for example, buying new clothes or a new house, which should be avoided in specific days, in these two months.

At the same time, and it is important to note here also people should be respected if they choose not to do any of this during the two months, as an expression of the Aza’, mourning for the Ahlul Bayt, alayhihum as-salam. Similarly, though, if people choose to follow the Marja’ and adhere to legal instructions, such as if they decide to paint the house on, say, the twenty-first of Muharram, they should not be judged or condemned to.

Finally, we must not lose or forget the spirit of these months. And that is the expression of love and loyalty to the martyrs of Karbala and their eternal stance, displaying of mourning as well as participation in the Husayni rituals. Ash-Sha’ar ul-Husayniyyah.