Question
SEEKING GUIDANCE With the approach of the month of Ramadan, iftaar gatherings are held in many places, including those arranged exclusively for women. At such meetings the Qur’an is recited and religious talks and reminders are delivered. However, it often occurs that group photographs are taken at these gatherings and later posted on statuses, and conversations may drift away from beneficial topics into idle talk and sins of the tongue. Many Muslim women — both married and unmarried — attend these events. Since Maghrib time falls in the evening, women do not always go there accompanied by a husband or mahram. Some sisters argue that these gatherings provide spiritual benefit and an opportunity to spend time in a women’s jama‘ah. We request clarification regarding how such practices conform to the rulings of the Shariah for Muslim women, and ask for a detailed response with advice so that others may also benefit.
Answer
The only Islamically sounding aspect of these confounded functions and gatherings is the term ‘iftaar’. But, this term is deceptively employed to convey the idea of the shaitaani gathering being ‘islamic’. However, these shaitaani functions have absolutely no relationship with Iftaar nor with anything commanded by the Deen. These gatherings are in reality shaitaani schemes designed by Iblees for the fulfilment of the base, lustful desires of the nafs.
From whence did these evil men and women acquire these functions which they deceptively designate ‘iftaar’. There is absolutely no resemblance between these evil shaitaani gatherings and the Masnoon Iftaar amal of the Sunnah.
The time of Iftaar which coincides with the time of Maghrib Salaat is never for merrymaking and fulfilment of nafsaani desires. The Sunnah method of Iftaar is with a couple of dates and/or water, and with NOTHING else. Then immediately after this simple Sunnah Iftaar follows Maghrib Salaat.
But these evil fussaaq and faasiqaat gathering at some venue for merrymaking commit the haraam act of delaying Maghrib Salaat for no valid reason. Maghrib Salaat may not be delayed for merrymaking. The so-called ‘religious’
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