A question was asked on December 29, 2015 8:30 pm (the link to the web-page of the Fatwa is https://www.alislam.co.za/answers-ajax/) as to whether it is permissible to attend the Souk. In this regard, Hazrat Mufti Elias Rahmatullahi alaih answered as follows:
ANSWER: Firstly, understand a few basic simple points.
1) It is permissible to go to the Bazaar to shop for necessities.
2) The Masaajids are the best places on earth whilst the Bazaars are the worst.
3) A Muslim must not go to places where open sinning is taking place.
4) We/I have tried to save them from their deviation from the right path for a few years now with no avail.
The ‘Souk’ is sending a completely wrong signal, that it is so called ‘Islaamic’. But upon investigation it gets worse year by year.
Music, dancing, photography, videoing and all done under the guise of promoting Islaam.
Whilst songs with music are sung on stage, smoke bombs are unleashed, artists begin to strip, crowds are whistling, cheering and clapping.
Some activities of gender mixing ashamedly take place which is even worse than Kaafir bazaar which concentrates more on selling their merchandise than trying out various forms of immodesty/immorality.
Can a Muslim attend?
The ‘souk’ is promoted by Radio Al Ansaar which openly promotes, Shiasm, Salafism, Bidat, modernism and Shirk. Thus by paying an entrance fee one will be supporting ‘Baatil’ without any shadow of a doubt.
All reasons to justify this nefarious activities have absolutely no Shaari standing. Those who support are aiding sin, disobedience, transgression and immodesty ‘in the name of Muslims!’
No reasonable sensible Muslim who has care for his own Imaan will go to such a place especially when evil is perpetrated under the banner of Islaam. Allaah save us all.