Is Marriage in Shawwal Disliked?

Question

Is marriage in the month of Shawwal disliked, or does it bring bad luck?

Bottom Line

Marriage in Shawwal is not disliked. In fact, the Prophet ﷺ married and consummated his marriage with Aishah (RA) in Shawwal. The superstition of avoiding marriage in this month is from Jahiliyyah and has no basis in Islam.

Quick Answer

There is no basis in the Qur’an or Sunnah for the idea that Shawwal is an unlucky month for marriage. On the contrary, Aishah (RA) proudly mentioned that she married the Prophet ﷺ in Shawwal, as a refutation of the false beliefs held by the pre-Islamic Arabs. Superstition has no role in Islam, and tying marriage to omens is a form of shirk.

Key Takeaways

• Superstitions about Shawwal come from Jahiliyyah, not Islam.
• The Prophet ﷺ married Aishah (RA) in Shawwal, proving its permissibility.
• Scholars like Imam al-Nawawi said this Hadith shows it is recommended to marry in Shawwal.
• Belief in bad omens is forbidden; the Prophet ﷺ said, “Tiyarah (evil omens) is shirk.”

Detailed Answer

Marriage is a sacred bond in Islam, and every culture has carried with it myths and superstitions about when it should or shouldn’t take place. One such belief that still lingers among some Muslims is that marriage in the month of Shawwal brings misfortune. Yet when we look to the Qur’an and Sunnah, we find no basis for this superstition. In fact, the Prophet ﷺ himself married and consummated his marriage with Aishah (RA) in Shawwal, turning this cultural fear into a moment of blessing and proof that such notions have no place in our faith.

The Arabs of Jahiliyyah used to avoid marriage in Shawwal, associating it with omens of separation. They tied this to the word “Shawwal,” which referred to camels lifting their tails after impregnation.

Islam came to break these false ideas. Aishah (RA) said:

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ married me in Shawwal, and consummated the marriage with me in Shawwal. Which of his wives was more favored by him than me?” (Muslim 1423)

By highlighting this, she refuted superstition and showed that marriage in Shawwal is not only permissible but even recommended.

Ibn Kathir (RA) explained that the Prophet’s ﷺ marriage in Shawwal was a direct rejection of false omens. Imam al-Nawawi (RA) also noted that scholars considered it mustahabb (recommended) to marry in Shawwal for this very reason.

Superstitions about marriage in Shawwal are no different from other omens the Prophet ﷺ warned against:

“There is no contagion and no evil omen.” Bukhari 5717

And he ﷺ said:

“Tiyarah (evil omens) is shirk.” Abu Dawud 3910

Thus, marriage in Shawwal carries no harm, only blessings when done with the right intention.

What This Means for You

If someone advises you to avoid marriage in Shawwal, know it’s superstition, not religion. Islam frees you from such baseless fears. Just as the Prophet ﷺ married in Shawwal, you too can marry in this month without hesitation.

And Allah knows best.

References

Primary Sources

Qur’an

1. At-Tawbah 9:36: The sacred months and their sanctity.

Hadith

2. Sahih Muslim 1423: Aishah (RA) narrates marriage and consummation in Shawwal.
3. Sahih al-Bukhari 5717: “There is no contagion and no evil omen.”
4. Abu Dawud 3910: “Tiyarah is shirk.”

Secondary Sources

5. Ibn Kathir, Al-Bidayah wa’n-Nihayah, 3/253.
6. Imam al-Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim, 9/209.
7. Ibn Mandhur, Lisan al-‘Arab, vol. 11, p. 277.