What is the ruling on marriage customs in some tribes of Sudan and Eritrea, such as tying the groom with a thread on his hand, his carrying of a sword, stick, or whip, and his being whipped to demonstrate courage; and what is the ruling on restricting the bride from leaving her home for forty days, and the ruling on women gathering with her during these forty days; and what is the ruling on sitting with the husband's female relatives to drink al-jabanah; and the ruling on the wife's feet or hands being visible to the husband's relatives without khalwah (seclusion); and the ruling on her wearing the Sudanese dress and going out in it to neighbors or shops?

Firstly: Tying a string on the hand, if intended to ward off the evil eye or for healing, is polytheism (shirk). However, if it is for adornment or a custom not intended to bring benefit or repel harm, then there is no objection to it.

Secondly: It is permissible to carry a sword or a whip at a wedding, but it is not permissible to strike a guest with it due to the harm and animosity it causes.

Thirdly: There is no legal basis for a married woman not leaving her home or visiting others until after forty days (post-partum). This might be a custom from the pre-Islamic era (Jahiliyyah) that ought to be abolished due to the hardship it entails.

Fourthly: Sitting with the husband’s female relatives for coffee or similar occasions may lead to temptation, even if they are veiled, as it often results in uninhibited conversation and laughter, and diseases of the heart. For this reason, Islamic law prohibits free mixing (ikhtilat).

Fifthly: A woman is obligated to cover her feet and hands from non-mahram men, such as the husband’s relatives, as they are considered part of the 'awrah ( एरिया of modesty) by the majority of jurists, and the entire woman is 'awrah.

Sixthly: There is no objection to a woman going out in a Sudanese dress to her neighbors or to buy something, provided it covers her entire body and is not an adornment in itself.