Chapter 3: Regarding
Walima (The Wedding Feast) And Entertaining Guests
Hadith 1: It is in Sahih Bukhari
and Muslim on the authority of Anas رضی اللہ
تعالٰی عنہ that Nabi صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم saw signs of yellowness on Abdur Rahmaan ibn Auf
رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ (in other words he noticed sandy saffron like
colour on his body or clothing). He
صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم asked, ‘What is this?’ (i.e. this colour should
not be on the body of a male. How did this colour appear on your body?). He
said, ‘I married a lady and this yellowish colour rubbed off from her body on
to me’. Rasoolullah صلَّی
اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘Allah allow it to be blessed for you!
You should arrange a Walima (wedding feast) even if it is with a single goat,
or (he صلَّی
اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said) with just one goat’.
Hadith 2: It is in Bukhari and
Muslim from Anas رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ. He
says that Huzoor صلَّی
اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم hosted the Walima of Zainab رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہا in with such grandeur, that he did not do so for any other of the
Azwaaj-e- Mutahiraat. He صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم did
the Walima with one goat. In other words this was a very grand Walima compared
to all the others, as the meat of an entire goat was prepared during this
Walima. It is mentioned in another narration cited in Sahih Bukhari Shareef on
the authority of Anas رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that after
the Zifaf[1]
with Hazrat Zainab bin Jah’sh رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہا Huzoor صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ
وسلَّم hosted the Walima in which everyone was treated to stomach full of
Roti and meat.
Hadith 3: It is in Sahih Bukhari
from Anas رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that on the return from Khaibar, between
Khaibar and Madina, due to the Zifaf of Hazrat Safiya رضی
اللہ تعالٰی عنہا Huzoor صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم remained there for 3 nights. He صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ
وسلَّم invited the Muslims to a Walima. There was neither meat nor bread at
the Walima. Huzoor صلَّی
اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم gave the command and the eating mats were
spread out. Khajoor[2], Paneer[3]
and Ghee[4]
were served. It is mentioned in the narrations of Imam Ahmed, Tirmizi, Abu
Dawud and Ibn Majah that during the Walima Feast of Hazrat Safiya رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہا
Situ[5]
and dates were served.
Hadith 4: It is in Sahih Bukhari
and Muslim from Abdullah ibn Umar رضی اللہ
تعالٰی عنہما that the Huzoor صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ
وسلَّم said, ‘When a person is invited to a Walima, he should attend it’.
Hadith 5: It is in Sahih Muslim
from Jaabir رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that Huzoor
صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘When someone is invited to a meal, he
should accept (the invitation), then if he wishes, he may either eat or not’.
Hadith 6: In Sahih Bukhari and
Muslim from Abu Hurairah رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ it is narrated
that Huzoor صلَّی
اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘A bad meal (feast) is that Walima
feast to which only the wealthy are invited and the poor are left out. Whosoever
rejected an invitation (i.e. he rejected it without a valid reason), he has
disobeyed the command of Allah and His Rasool ’. It is mentioned in a narration of Muslim Shareef that a Walima
feast is regarded as a bad feast, when those who attend it (i.e. those who attend
such gatherings happily) are shunned from it, and those who reject it (i.e. its
virtue) are invited to it. Whosoever has rejected an invitation has disobeyed
Allah and His Rasool صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم .
Hadith 7: Abu Dawud reported on
the authority of Abdullah ibn Umar رضی اللہ
تعالٰی عنہما that Huzoor صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ
وسلَّم said, ‘One who was invited and did not accept it, has disobeyed
Allah and His Rasool صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم and whosoever attended without an invitation,
has sneaked in as a thief, and emerged after plundering’.
Hadith 8: Tirmizi reported on
the authority of Abdullah ibn Mas’ud رضی اللہ
تعالٰی عنہ that Huzoor صلَّی
اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘(During Weddings) the feast of the first
day is Haq (i.e. it is proven and should be done), the feast of the second day
is Sunnat, and the Feast of the third day is Sum’a (i.e. that which is done for
attaining name and fame). Whosoever does anything so that it is heard about (for
fame) then Allah will cause him to hear. In other words, he will be punished’.
Hadith 9: Abu Dawud reported
from Ikrama رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that Rasool صلَّی اللہ
تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم
disallowed us from eating at the home of two
people who host banquets (invitations) to compete (with one another) and to be
boastful.
Hadith 10: Imam Ahmed and Abu
Dawud reported from a certain Sahabi that Rasool صلَّی
اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم
said, ‘When two people come over to invite you
at the same time, then accept the invitation of the person whose door is closer
to your door and if one of them came first, then accept the invitation of the
one who came first’.
Hadith 11: It is in Sahih Bukhari
and Muslim from Abu Mas’ud Ansari رضی اللہ
تعالٰی عنہ that an Ansari, whose epithet was Abu Shu’aib, commanded his slave
to cook an amount of food that will suffice for five people. He said, ‘I wish
to invite Nabi صلَّی
اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم and five of his Companions’. A small amount
of food was prepared and he presented himself to invite Huzoor صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم
. Another
person went along with Huzoor صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم . Huzoor صلَّی
اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘Abu Shu’aib! This person has come along
with us. If you wish, you may permit him to join us and if you wish you may
refuse’. He said ‘I am permitting him’. In other words, if someone is invited
and another person tags along with him, he should make it known to the host
that he did not bring him along, and thereafter the host has the right to
either grant him permission to join in the meal or not. If he does not make it
known, then it will be offensive to the host in that he brought along others with
him, without being asked to do so.
Hadith 12: Baihaqi has reported in
Sha’bul Imaan from Imraan bin Haseen رضی اللہ
تعالٰی عنہ that Huzoor صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم cautioned
us against accepting the invitation of fasiqs (open transgressors).
Hadith 13: It is in Sahih Bukhari
and Muslim from Abu Hurairah رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that
Huzoor صلَّی
اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘One who has Imaan in Allah and in the
Last Day, should respect his guest and one who has Imaan in Allah and in the
Last Day should not cause harm to his neighbour, and one who has Imaan in Allah
and in the Last Day should either speak good words or remain silent’. It is in
one narration that the one who has Imaan in Allah and in the Last Day should
keep good family ties.
Hadith 14: In Sahih Bukhari and
Muslim it is reported from Abu Shuraih Ka’abi رضی اللہ
تعالٰی عنہ that Rasool صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘One who has Imaan in Allah and the
Last Day should respect his guest. One day and night is his assessment (i.e.
you should serve him meticulously for an entire day and you should prepare
sumptuous meals for him according to your means). Entertaining (the guest) is
for three days (i.e. after one day, present to him whatever is available) and
after three days, it is Sadqa. It is not Halaal (lawful) for the guest to
remain at his (the hosts) home for more than three days, thereby causing him inconvenience’.
Hadith 15: Tirmizi reported on
the authority of Abil Ahwas Jashmi who reported from his father. He says, I
said ‘Ya Rasool’Allah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ
وسلَّم! Please
inform me (what should be done in this case), I went to the home of a person
and he did not entertain me appropriately (as a guest). Now if he visits my
home, should I entertain him or should I treat him accordingly (i.e. should I
settle the score)?’ He صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘Rather you should entertain him (as a
guest should be entertained)’.
Hadith 16: Ibn Majah reported
from Abu Hurairah رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that
Rasool صلَّی
اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘It is Sunnat for you to walk your
guest to the door, when he is departing’.
Laws of Jurisprudence
The Walimah Invitation (Feast) is Sunnat. Walima means to hold a feast
according to your means, (for the purpose of feeding) your friends, relatives,
elders, family members and those in your locality, on the morning after Zifaf
(consummation of marriage). To sacrifice an animal and prepare food for this
purpose is permissible. Those who are invited should oblige and accept the
invitation, as attending the Walima will bring happiness to the host. Regarding
whether it is Sunnat or Waajib to attend the Walima when invited, then in this regard,
the statements of the Ulama are in support of both. However, it is clear that
to accept this invitation is Sunnat-e-Mu’akkadah. With the exception of the
Walima, it is also virtuous to attend other invitations. If the person (who has
been invited) is not fasting, it is Afdal (more virtuous) for him to partake in
the meal which has been provided, as this is to share in the happiness of your
fellow Muslim brother. One should still attend the Walima even if he is
fasting, and make Dua for the host. With the exception of the Walima, the
ruling for other invitations is also the same, i.e. if one is not fasting, then
he should partake in the meal provided, and if he is fasting, then he should
make Dua for the host. [Alamgiri –
Raddul Muhtar]
Law: The ruling cited above is only applicable
when the person who is presenting the invitation intends to do so to fulfil the
Sunnat, and if the gathering is being hosted for name and fame and so that people
may praise the host, as we see many people do today. It is better not to attend
such invitations. The Ahl-e-Ilm (People of Knowledge – Ulama) should especially
not attend such gatherings. [Raddul
Muhtar]
Law: It is only Sunnat to attend an invitation
when one knows that it will be free of any singing and music or amusement and
games (i.e. improper entertainment). If one is aware that these obscenities
will take place at such a gathering, then one should not attend. If after arriving
there one notices these absurdities taking place here, and if this is happening
where you are (seated), you should leave. If it is taking place in another
portion of the building and not in the part of the building where the food is
being served, then one may sit there and partake in the meal. Now, if this person
is capable of stopping them from this (practice), he should make an attempt to
stop them, and if he does not have the capability to this, then he should make sabr
(remain patient). This ruling applies to a person who is not a religious
leader. If he is a leader and one who others follow, for example, if he is from
amongst the Ulama and Masha’ikh, then if they are not able to put a stop to
what is happening there, they should leave. Neither should they remain seated
there, nor should they eat there. If one already knew that these things will be
taking place there, then whether the person is a leader or not, for either one
to go there is not permissible. This is even if it is not happening in the
section of the building wherein they are, but it is taking place in another
section of the building. [Hidaya,
Durr-e-Mukhtar]
Law: If amusement and frivolous activities are
taking place at such gatherings and one knows that if he attends, then such
activities will be halted, then in such a case, he should go with this
intention (i.e. with the intention of having those improper activities halted),
because his attendance at such a gathering, will cause those activities which
are contrary to the Shariah to be suspended. However, if one knows that by him
not attending, it will be an admonition to them and they will not resort to
such bad customs, because they regard his attendance at this gathering to be
necessary (i.e. of importance), and (they know that) if he finds out that there
will be such activities taking place at weddings and celebrations, then he will
not attend their celebrations; then it is necessary upon him not to attend
under such circumstances, so that it may be a note of caution to the people and
so that they may abstain from such bad customs. [Alamgiri]
Law: The invitation for the Walima feast is only
on the first day or on the day after. In other words, this feast can only be
for two days. After this, the Walima and wedding ceremony has ended. [Alamgiri]
Law: In India, the series of events pertaining to
weddings remains for many days at a time. To go beyond the Sunnat is to be
boastful and to do it for name and fame. To abstain from this is necessary. Law: It is permissible for a guest to pass over an
item to someone else, at the same spread, provided he is sure that the host
will not be offended by this. If he knows or if he is unsure if the host will
be offended, he should not pass it to another person. [Alamgiri]
Law: Some people serve the best foods to
dignitaries on one spread and they just serve common (ordinary) things to the
poor. Even though one should not behave in this manner, as it causes the feelings
of the poor to be hurt. However, in such a case if one before whom the good
things are kept, took something from it and gave it to someone who does not
have it, then it would appear that the host would take offence to this, because
if he really wished to serve this to them, he would have spread it out before
them himself. At least, this is regarded as a doubtful case. It is thus
impermissible to give something to them in such a situation. However, if it is
from the same variety of food, such as bread or meat and the bread that was kept
before one of them is finished and another person took some and passed it over
to them, then it would seem apparent that the host would not take offence to
this.
Law: If one is partaking in a meal at the home of
someone else and a beggar asks for something. Then in such a case, it is not
permissible for him (the guest) to give a piece of roti (bread) to the beggar, as
the host left it there for him to eat, and he did not make him (the guest) the
Maalik (owner) of it, whereby giving him the right to give it to whomsoever he
wishes. [Alamgiri]
Law: If the meal is being eaten on two different
spreads, then a person may not take something from one spread and pass it over
to someone eating on the other spread, unless he is completely certain that the
host will not be offended by this. [Alamgiri]
Law: If whilst eating, the child of the host comes
over, he (the guest) can not give anything from his meal to the child or to the
servant of host. [Alamgiri]
Law: If the food has become contaminated (become
impure – Na Paak), it is not permissible to feed it to an insane person, a
child, or to such an animal which is Halaal to consume. [Alamgiri]
Law: There are four things that are essential for
a guest: (1) to sit where asked to sit. (2)
To be satisfied with whatever has been placed
before him and it should not be so that he makes utterances such as; ‘I eat
better than this at my own house’ or other statements such as people make
whilst sitting together in feasts nowadays. (3)
Not to get up without the permission of the
host. (4) To make dua for the host, when he does get up.
The host should occasionally say to the guest, ‘please have some more’,
but he should not insist on this, so that by insisting, the guest does not eat
more than he is able to, thus causing it to become harmful to him.
The host should not remain completely silent and he should not serve
the meal and then himself disappear, rather he should remain there (with the
guests). He should also not become upset with his servants etc. in the presence
of his guests. If he is a person who has sufficient provisions, he should not
due to the guests reduce the amount of food of the household. The host should
personally be courteous towards his guests and he should not leave this duty to
the servants, as showing courtesy to the guest is the Sunnat of Hazrat Ibraheem
علیہ ا لصلوۃ والتسلیم.
If there are only a few guests, then the host should sit down to eat with them,
as hospitality demands this. If there are many guests, then one should not sit
down with them, but one should be occupied in serving and feeding them. A person
who causes discomfort to the guests should not be made to sit with them. [Alamgiri]
Law: When all complete eating, arrange for their
hands to be washed. Do not throw away the water after washing the hand of each person,
before washing the hand of the next.[6]
[Alamgiri]
Law: If someone sent you a gift and such a person
has both Halaal and Haraam possessions, but most of his possessions are Halaal,
then there is no harm in accepting (his gift). The same rule applies to partaking in a feast at his home. You should
only partake in the meal if you are certain. If most of his possessions (i.e.
wealth) are Haraam, neither should you accept his gift, nor should you partake
in a feast at his home, until such time that you are not certain, that the
things which are presented to you are Halaal. [Alamgiri]
Law: If a person is your debtor
and he has invited you to a meal, (then in such a case), if he used to even
invite you in this manner before taking the loan, there is no harm in accepting
his invitation, but if he used to invite you (to his home once) every twenty
days and now he is doing so in ten days, and he has even prepared more sumptuous
meals than in the past, then do not accept this invitation, as this is due to
the loan. [Alamgiri]
[1] The Zifaf refers to the night of the consummation of marriage.
[2] Khajoor is the name given to dates in the Urdu language.
[3] Paneer is a non-melting farmer cheese or curd cheese made by
curdling heated milk with some lemon juice etc. and does not contain rennet.
[4] Ghee is pure butter oil.
[5] Situ is a sweet non-alcoholic beverage made from parched barley.
[6] This refers to the customary washing with the jug and bowl.
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