Q. During the Walimah (wedding feast) the Imaam will make a dua. All present lift their hands and join in the dua. Is this a Sunnah practice?

A. No, it is a bid’ah. Such a collective dua is not part of the Walimah. It is an innovation, hence not permissible. After eating, everyone should make their own dua silently, without lifting the hands. The usual Masnoon dua which is recited after eating should be recited.

Q. According to The Fuqaha women are not supposed to attend Walimahs. I have been informed by some Maulanas that Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) used to allow women to attend Walimahs. Please comment.

A. The Maulanas are all Muqallideen or are supposed to be Muqallideen of the Math-hab. It is not permissible for a Muqallid to deduct Shar’i masaa-il from the Qur’aan and Ahaadith. The limit for the Muqallid is the Rulings of the Fuqaha and the Aimmah-e-Mujtahideen. The Muqallid may not go beyond this limit. There are Ahaadith which say that wudhu have to be taken after eating cooked food. There are Ahaadith which allow women to attend the Musjid. But the Ruling of Allah’s Shariah is that it is not permissible for women to attend the Musjid. Just as it was permissible for women to attend the Musjid during the ageof Rasulullah (sallallahu _alayhi wasallam), so too was it permissible for them to attend Walimahs in that age. Later when Musjid attendance was prohibited for them, it was extended to Walimahs to a greater degree. Do not be misled by the baseless arguments of men with shallow knowledge.

Q. What is the Sunnat way of marriage?

A. Nikah in Islam is a very simple affair. The essentials of a Nikah are only the Nikah ceremony performed in the Musjid. Thereafter is the Walimah feast. Nothing else.

Q. What is the Shariah’s ruling when invited to a walimah? Nowadays most Walimahs do not conform to the Sunnah.

A. It is Waajib (compulsory) to attend the Walimah if one has been invited. However, if any un-Islamic activity takes place at the function, e.g. music, intermingling of sexes, photography, etc., then it is not permissible to attend.

Q. A walimah feast is given before consummation of the marriage. Is this permissible?

A. The Walimah may be before or after consummation of the marriage. Both ways are valid and permissible.

Q. Whose duty is it to arrange the Walimah?

A. The Walimah Sunnat has to be discharged by the husband. The man is responsible for the walimah. The feast which is nowadays organized by the girl’s people on the day of the Nikah is not the Walimah. This customary feast, i.e. given by the girl’s family, is not an Islamic practice. There is no Islamic significance in this feast. The other feasts are feasts of pride and waste.

Q. If a Walimah feast is organized in public hall where men and women mingle, will it be permissible to ignore the invitation one has been given to participate in the Walimah?

A. In fact, it will not be permissible to attend a feast where Haraam activities take place. Such a Haraam gathering will not be termed the Walimah. It is permissible to turn down the invitation on account of the violations of the Shariah at the hall.

Q. In our community usually two feasts or receptions are organized on wedding occasions. Some wedding invitation cards will, for example state: “The bride will receive guests at the Truro Hall (for example)…”, and “A Walimah will be at…” What is the Shariah’s ruling on these feasts? How should a Muslim respond to such invitations?

A. The only Sunnat feast on the Nikah occasion is the Walimah which is a simple feast given by the man. At the Walimah there is no ostentation and no Kuffaar customs. There cannot be any haraam practices at a Walimah. If the Walimah is in accordance with the Sunnah, it will be incumbent to accept the invitation and attend. If haraam acts are perpetrated at the Walimah, then it will not be permissible to attend. Nowadays the Walimah or so-called walimah feast organized at halls in western style with the accompaniment of haraam practices such as photography, intermingling of sexes, etc., cannot be described as the Masnoon Walimah. Such feasts are feasts of evil. It is not permissible to attend such haraam gatherings.

The other reception where the “bride will receive guests in a hall” is a plain shaitaani practice. It is a haraam act from beginning to end. It is an accursed gathering on which the La’nat of Allah Ta’ala descends. It is haraam to attend such an evil and immoral function at which every prohibition of Hijaab and Islamic propriety is violated.

Q. Is it permissible to have the Walimah after seven days?

A. The Walimah will be valid if held at any time whether the first, second, seventh or any other day thereafter. However, the best period is within the first seven days after Nikah. The better course during these seven days, is to observe the Walimah on either the first, second or third day. However, if the Walimah is held after the seventh day, then it will not be incumbent on people to answer the invitation.

Q. Is it necessary for the validity of the Walimah that the Nikah be first consummated?

A. It is not necessary. The Walimah may be held even before the consummation of the marriage.

Q. Is it permissible to have Walimah feast immediately after the Nikah? Is consummation of the marriage not necessary before the walimah?

A. The Walimah after the Nikah is valid and permissible. Consummation of the marriage is not conditional for the validity of the walimah. However, the customary wedding feast organized by the bride’s people is not the Masnoon Walimah. The Walimah is the obligation of the husband.

Q. A walimah feast is given before consummation of the marriage. Is this permissible?

A. The Walimah may be before or after consummation of the marriage. Both ways are valid and permissible.

Q. Whose duty is it to arrange the Walimah?

A. The Walimah Sunnat has to be discharged by the husband. The man is responsible for the walimah. The feast which is nowadays organized by the girl’s people on the day of the Nikah is not the Walimah. This customary feast, i.e. given by the girl’s family, is not an Islamic practice. There is no Islamic significance in this feast. The other feasts are feasts of pride and waste.

Q. If a Walimah feast is organized in public hall where men and women mingle, will it be permissible to ignore the invitation one has been given to participate in the Walimah?

A. In fact, it will not be permissible to attend a feast where Haraam activities take place. Such a Haraam gathering will not be termed the Walimah. It is permissible to turn down the invitation on account of the violations of the Shariah at the hall.

Q. Since the aim of a Walimah is to publicize the Nikah, will the feast usually arranged by the bride’s people on the first day of the Nikah suffice?

A. The feast arranged by the bride’s people will never suffice for the Masnoon Walimah which is a Sunnatul Muakkadah act incumbent on the husband. The feast by the girl’s people is usually a feast of waste and pride devoid of blessing. Such feast have no place in Islam. On the other hand, the Walimah is a simple feast organized in obedience to the command of the Shariah. It is a feast of blessing and merit.

Q. It is Sunnah to attend a Walimah if invited. What if the married couple have a Haraam reception in the hall where men and women will be mixing, pictures taken and other Haraam acts taking place? Will it still be Sunnat to attend the Walimah of this couple if the Walimah feast is held on another day at another venue where there will be no mixed gathering of men and women?

A. It is not permissible to honour these fussaaq by answering their invitation to attend the Walimah even if it will beat another venue. When people violate Allah’s law so flagrantly as these fussaaq people, then it is not permissible to associate with them. It will not remain incumbent to answer their invitation.

Q. Why does The Majlis say that it is not permissible for women to attend Walimahs when there are Hadith to prove that women used to participate in Walimahs during the time of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)?

A. If you are a freelancer or like the roaming holy cows of India, i.e. you do not follow any Math-hab, then we have no discussion with you. But if you are a Muqallid of one of the Four Math-habs, then understand well that neither we nor any one on earth today is an Imaam of Ijtihaad. We do not make istimbaat (logically deduct) masaa- il from the Qur’aan and Hadith. There are all types of Ahaadith. Formulating the masaa-il was the sacred function of the Aimmah-e-Mujtahideen of the Khairul Quroon epoch. That era has ended about 12 centuries ago. The limit of our knowledge is the Aimmah-e-Mujtahideen. We do not transgress and gate-crash into a domain for which we are not qualified. When we say that Walimahs and attending the Musaajid and lectures are not permissible for women, then we are proclaiming nothing but the Shariah of Islam which developed from the Qur’aan and the Sunnah. You are not qualified in this field nor do you have the right to attempt abrogation of the Shariah with your understanding of the Hadith.

Q. How should the walimah beheld?

A. Walimah is Sunnat. This is the duty of the husband. Walimah is a simple meal of just a couple of persons, including some very poor Muslims to participate in a simple meal.

Even if five or ten people are invited, it fulfils the Walimah Sunnat. The Walimah may be held at any time after the Nikah, and on any day within the home environment.

Q. When should the Walimah take place?

A. The Walimah (wedding feast) which is the man’s obligation is at any time, after the Nikah. Its validity is not dependent on Consummation of the marriage as some believe.

THE WALIMAH
Attending the Walimah is Sunnat if invited. The feast given by the man after nikah is called Walimah. Answering the Walimah invitation is permissible as long as there are no accompanying haraam acts.

If hijaab (Purdah) is abandoned or any other un-Islamic activity takes place, it will be haraam then to attend such a feast. Such a feast will be ‘the most evil food’. If the Walimah is held in a public hall where females attend, it will not be permissible to participate even if separate arrangements have been made for the women.

The function which the bride’s parents organise on the day of the marriage is not the Sunnah Walimah. The simpler the Walimah, the more barkat there is. According to the Hadith, a few poor persons should also be invited. Their presence prevents the food from being branded ‘the most evil food’.

Q. Are there any particular Sunnat customs to be observed after the Nikah has been performed? Nowadays, we find many practices on wedding occasions.

A. The only Sunnat custom after the Nikah is thesimple Walimah feast which is the responsibility of the husband. It is a feast for only men. All other customs have no relationship with Islam.

Q. Is it true that the Walimah (wedding feast) has to be within three days after the Nikah? After three days it will not be valid.

A. It is incorrect. The Walimah is valid even after three days.

Q. At a family walimah when moulood is held and they stand up to recite their salaami, I defiantly remain seated, this has caused much ill-feeling in the family. What advice do you have for me? ·

A. When you know that bid’ah will be taking place at the walimah, you should not attend. There will then be no need for defiance. It is not permissible to attend a walimah or any gathering where bid’ah takes place.

Q. Bow should a wedding be celebrated lslamically?

A. An Islamic Marriage is a very simple and inexpensive affair. The nikah -entails · no expenses whatsoever. Only-the Mehr (dowry} has to be paid to the bride. · After the nikah the Walimah (Sunnat feast) should be organised by the husband. This too is an inexpensive and simple function. A few relatives and friends should be invited for a simple meal. There is no need for the meal to be a lavish function. There is nothing else which is associated with a truly Islamic wedding.

Q. Is it necessary for the marriage to be consummated before the Walimah?

A. Consummation is not necessary. The· Walimah may be organised at any time. (Walimah is the Sunnat feast which the man organises. It is not the customary wedding feast which is accompanied by haraam acts).

Q. The programme for a marriage is as follows:

(1) Khatmul Qur`aan on Thursday.

(2) Mendi to be put on the boy and girl on Friday night.

(3) Nikah after Esha on Saturday.

(4) The girl will be in a wedding gown.

(5) The wedding is to be in a hall. There will be music and photography. If a Muslim is invited to this should he go or not?

A. The whole setup is a Haraam one besides the Nikah itself. The Khatmul Qur`aan ceremony on this occasion is bid’ah. All other practices mentioned are evil, Tashabbuh bil kuffaar and sinful. It is not permissible to participate in this type of Haraam wedding. It is not permissible to eat the food served at such an un-Islamic function.

”The food of that Walimah is evil where the wealthy are invited and

The poor are ignored (not invited)” (hadith)