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:

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