Excessive spending on wedding feasts is one of the obstacles to marriage.

The Shaykh : This is one of the obstacles. It is also one of the obstacles: excessive spending on wedding feasts. The walimah is what the husband prepares upon entering the marriage or after entering it, to display joy and happiness. But it is not in the state we see now. You find a person losing ten thousand, eight thousand, or four thousand on the walimah. Why? And perhaps they lose more than this. Perhaps twenty thousand, thirty thousand, or forty thousand. This is undoubtedly a form of extravagance and a great error. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf: . One sheep, and he was one of the wealthy among the Companions (may Allah be pleased with him). For this reason, the jurists said: "It is recommended to hold the walimah with one sheep or less", with one sheep or less. How many sheep do they slaughter now? Yes?
The student: Ten or more.

The Shaykh : Ten or more. Why? Even though people now are not in need, praise be to Allah. Everyone is full. If it were not for a person fearing Allah when attending wedding feasts when invited, and if it were not for his feeling ashamed to refuse the inviter, the person would not go to the invitation. He finds in his home food that is more delicious and more beneficial to him than these wedding feasts. So in reality, they are being extravagant. You find him: printing invitation cards. How much is the card? Mention the minimum and the maximum? Come on, everyone.
The student: One and a half riyals.

The Shaykh : One and a half riyals for the single card, or five riyals, or ten riyals. Even though the card, when given to a person, is thrown on the ground. It is not of any benefit. And the wonder is that they do not suffice with an invitation card; for example, they write the invitation on a piece of paper. And they photocopy as many as they wish. And it does not cost more than twenty riyals or something similar.
So the important thing, my brothers, is that marriage now has many obstacles, even though it is a recommended practice. And it entails great legal rulings. So much so that Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) made it a counterpart to kinship. Meaning to lineage. The bond between the sons of Adam is: lineage and in-laws. Allah the Exalted said: Kinship, what does that mean? It means lineage. It means lineage through marriage. You find the man, you find these people, yes, you find these people have no connection with the others. So when he marries from them, they become as if they are relatives. . And thus the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) married many women until he died with nine, in order to have a connection in every tribe. For this reason, the Messenger (may the prayer and peace of Allah be upon him) did not marry to satisfy his desire and instinct. But in order to have a connection in every tribe of the Arab tribes. If he had been a man of strong desire, whom would he have married? He would have married virgins. Even though he did not marry a virgin except for one only. And she is the Mother of the Believers, 'A'ishah. The rest of them had all been married before. And some of them had sons and daughters. So the result, my brothers, the result is: that marriage is a bond and a means of bringing people closer to one another. And this is among the benefits of marriage.