Ruling on Walimah

A: Setting a banquet is an act of Sunnah because the Prophet did so and he (peace be upon him) also said to `Abdul-Rahman ibn `Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) when he got married: Give a Walima (wedding banquet) even if with one sheep. Its amount differs according to the capability of a person and his conditions. There is no minimum because of what has been reported from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: I have not seen the Prophet (peace be upon him) set a wedding banquet (Part No. 19; Page No. 92) for one of his wives as he did for Zaynab bint Jahsh when he offered a sheep as a banquet. (Related by Al-Bukhari) It is also reported on the authority of Safiyyah bint Shaybah (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said: The Prophet (peace be upon him) gave a banquet with two Mudds of barley on marrying some of his wives. (Related by Al-Bukhari) This Hadith refers to Um Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) due to what was reported by Imam Ahmad in a Sahih (authentic) Sanad (chain of narration). There is no maximum but a Muslim must be moderate and consider his conditions whether rich or poor and the conditions of those whom he invites. He should not be extravagant in food, light and suchlike because extravagance is prohibited. It is in fact one of Al-Kaba'ir (Grievous sins) because of Allah's Saying: O Children of Adam! Take your adornment (by wearing your clean clothes), while praying and going round (the Tawâf of) the Ka‘bah, and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance, certainly He (Allâh) likes not Al-Musrifûn (those who waste by extravagance). (Part No. 19; Page No. 93) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.