a distant place. It is indeclinable with a fixed fatḥah ending and occupies the accusative position; it is connected to an omitted predicate and serves as the preceding predicate, while “an evil” is the delayed noun of anna. An evil is anything prohibited by the Sacred Law. Thus, if he knows, for example, that this wedding feast involves the mixing of men and women, musical instruments, photography, or similar prohibited matters, then, if he is able to remove or reduce them, he should attend. This is because a person must denounce evil when he knows that his denunciation will lessen it. Therefore, he must attend for two reasons:

First: it is an invitation to a wedding feast.

Second: it affords an opportunity to remove an evil or reduce it; and removing evil or reducing it is obligatory.

For example, if a man has such standing and influence that, when he learns of the evil and orders its removal, they obey him, then he must attend.

His statement, “Otherwise, he should decline,” means: if he is unable to change it, he should refrain from attending. Should he state the reason or not? It is preferable that he explain the reason, for several purposes:

First: to make his excuse clear.

Second: to deter those people.

Third: they may perhaps be unaware that this matter is unlawful. So if he says, “I will not attend because you have such-and-such,” and makes clear to them that it is unlawful, they may refrain from it.

Clarifying the reasons in matters that are denounced is among what the Sacred Law has prescribed. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “When you see someone buying and selling in the mosque, say: ‘May Allah not make your trade profitable, for mosques were not built for this purpose.’” (1)