What is the Ruling on the Marriage Walimah (Banquet) and Responding to it in the Shafi'i School?
Research done by Abul Layth
There are two parts to this research paper:
1) What is the ruling on the walimah (banquet, pronounced wa-lee-mah) of Marriage?
2) What is the ruling on attending the walimah?
Abi Shuja’ states in his “Matn“:
“And the walimah (banquet for) the marriage ceremony is mustahabb (recommended), and responding [to the invitation] in wajib (obligatory) except with an excuse (‘uthr).”
In discussing the view forwarded by Imam Abi Shuja’, I will be relying heavily upon Imam Taqiyud-din Al-Hisni, who states in his Kifayatul-Akhyaar that there are two views in the Shafi’i school:
Is it Permissible to Marry a Woman From Ahlul Kitaab?
Compiled by Abul Layth
There is disagreement regarding the permissibility of marrying a woman from the people of the Book. The following research is a collection of quotes and opinions ranging from permissibility to Makruh to Haraam.
Allah, the exalted, says in the Qur’an:
وَلا تَنْكِحُوا الْمُشْرِكَاتِ حَتَّى يُؤْمِنَّ
“And do not marry pagan women (Mushrikaat) until they believe.” [2:221]
This is a general verse declaring that the pagan women are forbidden to marry Muslim men, and vice versa. However, there is a specific (khaas) verse wherein Allah ta’alaa states,
الْيَوْمَ أُحِلَّ لَكُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتُ وَطَعَامُ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ حِلٌّ لَكُمْ وَطَعَامُكُمْ حِلٌّ لَهُمْ وَالْمُحْصَنَاتُ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَالْمُحْصَنَاتُ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ إِذَا آتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُن
“This day [all] good foods have been made lawful, and the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them. And [lawful in marriage are] chaste women from among the believers and chaste women from among those who were given the Scripture before you…” [5:5]