Greetings everyone. I trust it's okay for me to post here. If not, please delete. This is not so much a religious question as a cultural one. I'm pretty ignorant about Islamic culture and traditions, so I hope you can help me.
My next door neighbor has invited me to her son's walima. We are not close, but we get along well. They are a very kind family and we chat when we see each other in the street. We have never dined in each other's homes. I am honored to be invited, but I have a lot of questions which I am not sure are appropriate to ask her directly. They are from Pakistan and quite westernized, but religiously observant, just to be clear.
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Do you think they are really wanting me to come, or are they just being polite? If the latter, how do I gracefully decline? I would like to go, but only if my presence will not cause consternation.
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My neighbor indicated that I should dress fancy for this, and waved at what she was wearing at the time, having just come from one of the wedding parties in a spectacular jeweled dress. I am planning on getting something like a sharara to wear, as I have absolutely nothing formal in my closet. Can a westerner wear a traditional dress or would that be insulting, like cultural appropriation? I will, in any case, bring a scarf to cover my head if others are doing so.
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The event supposedly begins at 7:00. Do I arrive on time, or is it better to be late? How late? And when is it acceptable to leave?
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I am planning on giving cash in an envelope (invitation says no boxed gifts). Someone told me $51 would be a good amount. Thoughts?
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I will know no one except this one family, and I have no idea how many are coming. The event is booked at a huge venue, so I'm assuming a crowd. Given pandemic realities, I'm not keen to hug people or be very close for long periods, especially since I don't know if people are vaccinated. Can I wear a mask? How are people handling such things in the era of COVID?
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Can I introduce myself to people, or do I wait to be introduced?
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Are the women and men in separate spaces? My neighbor said something that made me think this is the case.
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I have many other questions, but I'll stop here. Any advice or pitfalls I should watch out for if I attend the event? Thank you so much for your time if you got this far.
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