It goes without saying that Islam commands us to establish good relations with our relatives and neighbours whether they are Muslims or not. As Muslims, we should do our best to be good to them and to become close to them, as this will bring them closer to Islam. However, a Muslim must refrain from participating in any act that violates Islamic teachings. Therefore, there is nothing wrong as far as Islam is concerned if you and your family attend your cousin’s wedding ceremony as long as you do not participate in any specific religious rituals that they may perform. Moreover, there is nothing wrong in acting as a flower girl, for it does not have any specific religious connotations.
Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states: “There is nothing wrong in Islam for you and your family to attend the Christian marriage ceremony. Islam teaches us to be kind and reciprocate kindness with our neighbours and fellow human beings. Accordingly, we are encouraged to deal with them on humane terms so long as we do not commit actions that are condemned by Allah and His Messenger. By attending the marriage, you are only establishing good relations, which is a neighbourly duty that we Muslims are enjoined to fulfil.
Good neighbourliness is a prescribed Islamic duty that has been heavily stressed in the Qur’an and the Prophetic traditions. Therefore, you may go ahead and participate in their wedding and demonstrate the noble teachings of Islam. While doing so, however, one should not participate in any specific religious rituals that they may perform, which may contain elements of shirk or associating other partners with Allah. Acting as a flower girl does not fall in this category, as it is simply a custom in many cultures, and as such it does not have any specific religious connotations. So, we should not have any inhibitions in participating in such customs.”