🏡 Rights & responsibilities · #59
What is the ruling on celebrating a wedding anniversary?
It is permitted as a custom and a way of showing appreciation for one's spouse, as long as it is not treated as a special act of worship, is not wasteful and involves nothing forbidden.
The basic ruling on customs and worldly matters is permissibility unless there is a prohibition, and Islam encourages appreciating one's spouse and recalling Allah's blessings (ad-Duha 93:11). The Prophet ﷺ accepted and returned gifts (Sahih al-Bukhari 2585), and exchanging gifts between spouses increases love. What should be avoided is treating it as sunnah or obligatory, spending beyond one's means, or making it a show on social media. Meaningful ways: a meal together, a letter of appreciation, charity in the family's name, praying together for the marriage. In polygamy, take care that a celebration for one wife does not hurt the other. See Emotional communication.
The basic ruling on customs and worldly matters is permissibility unless there is a prohibition, and Islam encourages appreciating one's spouse and recalling Allah's blessings (ad-Duha 93:11). The Prophet ﷺ accepted and returned gifts (Sahih al-Bukhari 2585), and exchanging gifts between spouses increases love. What should be avoided is treating it as sunnah or obligatory, spending beyond one's means, or making it a show on social media. Meaningful ways: a meal together, a letter of appreciation, charity in the family's name, praying together for the marriage. In polygamy, take care that a celebration for one wife does not hurt the other. See Emotional communication.
Sources
Surah ad-Duha 93:11Sahih al-Bukhari 2585Surah al-Furqan 25:67