Question: What is the Islamic condition of walima and until when does it last?

1. Inviting first and then pick up the bride during the wedding procession (Baraat and Rukhsati), is this [called] walima or not?
2. After the departure [rukhsati] of the immature [na-naligh], since it is not possible to copulate [zifaf], is the walima in accordance with the prophetic tradition to invite after fetching the bride or not?
3. If the walima is not done for the purpose of [fulfilling] the Sunnah but rather for the sake of show-off and imago and reasons that the guests have come for ten days, so it is important to feed them whether one is able or not; how is this invitation then? Pass the judgment for both competent and incompetent.

Questioner: Janab Mawlana Molvi Abd al-Hamid Saheb Panipati, Banares in India

Answer: Inviting acquaintances from the morning of the wedding night [shab zifaf]¹ is [called] walima. The invitation before the woman leaves [rukhsat] is not walima, even before consuming the marriage [zifaf] after she leaves (her home), and everything that is for the purpose of pretence and fame is haram. And when it comes to taking out a loan, there is no harm in taking out a loan, although this intention is not commendable at first.

al-Imam Ahmad Raza Khan al-Qadiri al-Barelvi
27-Shaban-1338 || ≈ 16-May-1920
al-‘Ataya al-Nabawiyyah fi’l-Fatawa al-Ridawiyyah: vol. 11, p. 255, #72
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