The Ruling on the Wedding Feast
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Fatwa No. ( 4026 )
Q: There are weddings in the Bedouin areas and some villages and cities. On the first night, to celebrate the marriage, they slaughter five sheep and a sack of rice, which is attended by only about 20 people. On Friday night, they slaughter a camel and two sacks of rice, vegetables, and klayf, which is attended by 70 people and 70 cars. Given that the food leftovers are left in the place prepared for holding the wedding party, is this permissible, recommended, or disliked? Please inform us, may Allah reward you with good and health.
A: The wedding feast is a recommended practice (sunnah) that is encouraged in the Shari'ah; due to the action of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and his saying to 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) when he married: Its amount varies according to one's wealth and the requirements of the situation, and there is no minimum limit for it, as it is established from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), that he said: Sunan al-Bayhaqi 10:1818 Narrated by al-Bukhari . And what is established from Safiyyah bint Shaybah (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said: Sahih al-Bukhari 5172 Narrated by al-Bukhari, and the one meant by it is Umm Salama (may Allah be pleased with her); as narrated by Imam Ahmad with a sound chain. There is also no maximum limit for it, but it is obligatory for the Muslim to be moderate, and to consider his own situation, whether rich or poor, and the situation of those he invites, whether many or few. He should not be extravagant in food, lights, or the like, for extravagance is forbidden, indeed it is among the major sins; due to the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-A'raf 7:31]
And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: There are weddings in the Bedouin areas and some villages and cities. On the first night, to celebrate the marriage, they slaughter five sheep and a sack of rice, which is attended by only about 20 people. On Friday night, they slaughter a camel and two sacks of rice, vegetables, and klayf, which is attended by 70 people and 70 cars. Given that the food leftovers are left in the place prepared for holding the wedding party, is this permissible, recommended, or disliked? Please inform us, may Allah reward you with good and health.
A: The wedding feast is a recommended practice (sunnah) that is encouraged in the Shari'ah; due to the action of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and his saying to 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) when he married:
Hold a feast, even if it is only with a sheep
أولم ولو بشاةI did not see the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) hold a wedding feast for any of his wives like he held for Zaynab bint Jahsh; he held it with a sheep.
ما رأيت النبي -صلى الله عليه وسلم- أولم على أحد من نسائه ما أولم على زينب بنت جحش أولم بشاةThe Prophet (ﷺ) gave a banquet with two Mudds of barley on marrying some of his wives.
أولم النبي -صلى الله عليه وسلم- عن بعض نسائه بمدين من شعيرO children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.
يَا بَنِي آدَمَ خُذُوا زِينَتَكُمْ عِنْدَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا وَلاَ تُسْرِفُوا إِنَّهُ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَAnd success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.