💐 In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful
📝 Some secrets to not feeling guilty at all about declining a wedding invitation:
1. Remind yourself of the real reason/s why you decided in the first place that you couldn't attend the wedding. Some justifiable reasons for not attending a social event include: Insufficient budget for transportation to reach the wedding venue and overspending is something you avoid as much as possible, being preoccupied with several tasks or assignments to complete, receiving direct instruction from your husband to not go to a certain place particularly if the destination is too far, not feeling well physically and/or emotionally etc.
2. Recall at least two instances when you had your own gathering or when you were present at an occasion and this person was not able to show up. If they're incapable of attending every gathering you go to, you too shouldn't feel guilty about not having the means to appear at every celebration they attend.
3. Be grateful Alhamdulillah that at least you have more time and opportunity to focus on other responsibilities.
4. Be contented knowing that
Inn-sha-Allah the meals which the hosts may have reserved for you can be given to somebody else who probably requires them a lot more than you do.
5. Remember that answering the calls to pray to Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala (the five obligatory prayers) is much more important and more rewarding then having to say yes to every wedding invitation, especially if there's a possibility that a person's wedding includes music, folk dance performance or unnecessary mixing among males and females who are not mahrams etc.
6. Acknowledge the truth that the host has other acquaintances and relatives whom they also invited but some of them are unable to turn up due to understandable excuses for not attending. You're not the only one on earth who politely declined a wedding invitation - and even if you were, the host should be confident enough to forgive you for not attending.
7. Look forward Inn-sha-Allah to meeting the hosts in the future and greeting them again, maintaining good manners, patience and contentment, for Allah's sake, as a striving Muslim.
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📖 Suhayb RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Amazing is the affair of the believer, as there is good for him in every matter. This is not the case for anyone but for the (true Muslim) believer. If he goes through ease (or happy moments), he thanks Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) and it is good for him. If he goes through difficulty, he shows patience (for Allah's sake) and it is (also) good for him."
Source: Sahih Muslim 2999
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Muslim
📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "The strong believer is more beloved to Allah (The Almighty) than the weak believer, but there is goodness in both of them. Be eager for what benefits you, seek help from Allah, and do not be frustrated. If something befalls you, then do not say: 'If only I had done something else.' Rather say: "Allah has decreed what He wills." Verily, the phrase 'if only' opens the way for the work of shaytan."
Source: Sahih Muslim 2664
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Muslim