The Wedding-feast - Section 1

Anas said the Prophet (ﷺ) saw the trace of yellow on ‘Abd ar-Rahman b. ‘Auf and asked what that was. He replied, “I have married a woman for a <i>nawat</i>* weight of gold.” He said, “God bless you! Hold a wedding- feast, even if only with a sheep.” *a weight of five dirhams. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

عَنْ أَنَسٍ: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رَأَى عَلَى عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ أَثَرَ صُفْرَةٍ فَقَالَ: «مَا هَذَا؟» قَالَ: إِنِّي تَزَوَّجْتُ امْرَأَةً عَلَى وَزْنِ نَوَاةٍ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ قَالَ: «بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَكَ أَوْلِمْ وَلَوْ بِشَاةٍ»

He said that God's Messenger did not hold such a wedding-feast for any of his wives as he did for Zainab. He held a wedding-feast with a sheep. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: مَا أَوْلَمَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْ نِسَائِهِ مَا أولم على زَيْنَب أولم بِشَاة

He said that God’s Messenger held a wedding-feast when he took up cohabitation with Zainab daughter of Jahsh and gave the people their fill of bread and meat. Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: أَوْلَمَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حِينَ بَنَى بِزَيْنَبَ بِنْتِ جَحْشٍ فأشبع النَّاس خبْزًا وَلَحْمًا. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

He said that God’s Messenger set Safiya free and married her, making her freedom her dower, and he held a wedding-feast for her with <i>hais</i> (A dish made of dates mixed with clarified butter and dried curd, kneaded and rubbed together. Sometimes flour was added.) (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ أَعْتَقَ صَفِيَّةَ وَتَزَوَّجَهَا وَجَعَلَ عِتْقَهَا صَدَاقَهَا وَأَوْلَمَ عَلَيْهَا بحيس. مُتَّفق عَلَيْهِ

He said:

The Prophet (ﷺ) stayed three nights between Khaibar and Medina when he took up cohabitation with Safiya, and I called the Muslims to his wedding-feast which included no bread or meat. He just ordered some cloths to be spread, and dates, dried curd and clarified butter were thrown on them. Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: أَقَامَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بَيْنَ خَيْبَرَ وَالْمَدِينَةِ ثَلَاثَ لَيَالٍ يُبْنَى عَلَيْهِ بِصَفِيَّةَ فَدَعَوْتُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ إِلَى وَلِيمَتِهِ وَمَا كَانَ فِيهَا مِنْ خُبْزٍ وَلَا لَحْمٍ وَمَا كَانَ فِيهَا إِلَّا أَن أمربالأنطاع فَبُسِطَتْ فَأَلْقَى عَلَيْهَا التَّمْرَ وَالْأَقِطَ وَالسَّمْنَ. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Safiya daughter of Shaiba said the Prophet (ﷺ) held a wedding-feast for one of his wives with two <i>muds</i> of barley. Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْ صَفِيَّةَ بِنْتِ شَيْبَةَ قَالَتْ: أَوْلَمَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسلم على النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَى بَعْضِ نِسَائِهِ بمدين من شعير. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When one of you is invited to a wedding-feast he must attend it.” In a version by Muslim he said, “He must accept, whether it is a wedding-feast or something of that nature.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «إِذَا دُعِيَ أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَى الْوَلِيمَةِ فَلْيَأْتِهَا» . مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ. وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لِمُسْلِمٍ: فَلْيُجِبْ عُرْسًا كَانَ أَو نَحوه

Jabir reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When one of you is invited to a meal he must accept. If he wishes he may eat, but if he wishes he may leave the food alone.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ: قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِذَا دُعِيَ أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَى طَعَام فليجب وَإِن شَاءَ طَعِمَ وَإِنْ شَاءَ تَرَكَ» . رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The worst kind of food is that at a wedding-feast to which the rich are invited and from which the poor are left out. If anyone rejects an invitation he has disobeyed God and His Messenger.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «شَرُّ الطَّعَامِ طَعَامُ الْوَلِيمَةِ يُدْعَى لَهَا الْأَغْنِيَاءُ وَيُتْرَكُ الْفُقَرَاءُ وَمَنْ تَرَكَ الدَّعْوَةَ فَقَدْ عَصَى الله وَرَسُوله»

Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari said:

One of the Ansar whose <i>kunya</i> was Abu Shu'aib had a servant who sold meat. He said, “Prepare for me food which will be enough for five; perhaps I shall invite the Prophet (ﷺ) along with other four.” He prepared a small meal for him, and then he went and invited him. A man followed them, and the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “A man has followed us, Abu Shu'aib, so if you wish you may let him join us, but if you wish you may leave him outside.” He replied, “No, I shall let him join us.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ قَالَ: كَانَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ يُكْنَى أَبَا شُعَيْبٍ كَانَ لَهُ غُلَامٌ لَحَّامٌ فَقَالَ: اصْنَعْ لِي طَعَامًا يَكْفِي خَمْسَةً لَعَلِّي أَدْعُو النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ خَامِسَ خَمْسَةٍ فَصَنَعَ لَهُ طعيما ثمَّ أتها فَدَعَاهُ فَتَبِعَهُمْ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «يَا أَبَا شُعَيْبٍ إِنَّ رَجُلًا تَبِعَنَا فَإِنْ شِئْتَ أَذِنْتَ لَهُ وَإِنْ شِئْتَ تركته» . قَالَ: لَا بل أَذِنت لَهُ

Anas said the Prophet (ﷺ) held a wedding-feast for Safiya with meal and dates. Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

عَنْ أَنَسٍ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أولم على صَفِيَّة بسويق وتمر. رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ

Safina told that 'Ali b. Abu Talib prepared food for a man who was his guest, and Fatima said, "I wish we had invited God’s Messenger and he had eaten with us.” They invited him and when he came he put his hands on the side-posts of the door, but when he saw the figured curtain which had been put at the end of the house he went away. Fatima said she followed him and asked, “What turned you back, Messenger of God?” He replied, “It is not fitting for me or for any prophet to enter a house which is decorated.” Ahmad and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنْ سَفِينَةَ: أَنَّ رَجُلًا ضَافَ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَصَنَعَ لَهُ طَعَامًا فَقَالَتْ فَاطِمَةُ: لَوْ دَعَوْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَأَكَلَ مَعَنَا فَدَعَوْهُ فَجَاءَ فَوَضَعَ يَدَيْهِ عَلَى عِضَادَتَيِ الْبَابِ فَرَأَى الْقِرَامَ قَدْ ضُرِبَ فِي نَاحِيَةِ الْبَيْتِ فَرَجَعَ. قَالَتْ فَاطِمَةُ: فَتَبِعْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا رَدَّكَ؟ قَالَ: «إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ لِي أَوْ لِنَبِيٍّ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ بَيْتا مزوقا» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمد وَابْن مَاجَه

‘Abdallah b. 'Umar reported God’s Messenger as saying, “He who does not accept an invitation which he receives has disobeyed God and His Messenger, and he who enters without an invitation enters as a thief and goes out as a raider.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ دُعِيَ فَلَمْ يُجِبْ فَقَدْ عَصَى اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَمن دخل على غَيْرِ دَعْوَةٍ دَخَلَ سَارِقًا وَخَرَجَ مُغِيرًا» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

A companion of God’s Messenger reported him as saying, “When two people come together to issue an invitation accept that of the one who lives nearer you, but if one of them comes before the other accept the invitation of the one who comes first.” Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «إِذَا اجْتَمَعَ الدَّاعِيَانِ فَأَجِبْ أَقْرَبَهُمَا بَابًا وَإِنْ سَبَقَ أَحَدُهُمَا فَأَجِبِ الَّذِي سَبَقَ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ

Ibn Mas'ud reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The food on the first day is a duty, that on the second is a <i>sunna</i>, but that on the third day is to make men hear of it; and if anyone makes men hear of what he does God will make him heard of” (i.e. will publish his hypocrisy on the day of resurrection). Tirmidhi transmitted it.

قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «طَعَامُ أَوَّلِ يَوْمٍ حق وَطَعَام يَوْم الثَّانِي سنة وَطَعَام يَوْم الثَّالِثِ سُمْعَةٌ وَمَنْ سَمَّعَ سَمَّعَ اللَّهُ بِهِ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

‘Ikrima, on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas, said the Prophet (ﷺ) forbade that the food of two people who were rivalling one another should be eaten. Abu Dawud transmitted it. Muhyi as-Sunna said the sound version is that it comes from ‘Ikrima from the Prophet (ﷺ) in <i>mursal</i> form.

وَعَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ نَهَى عَنْ طَعَامِ الْمُتَبَارِيَيْنِ أَنْ يُؤْكَلَ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَقَالَ مُحْيِي السُّنَّةِ: وَالصَّحِيحُ أَنَّهُ عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مُرْسَلًا

Abu Huraira reported God's Messenger as saying, “The invitations of two people who are rivalling one another should not be accepted, and the food they provide should not be eaten.” The <i>imam</i> Ahmad said it means two people who are competing with one another in providing a feast out of self-glory and ostentation. Baihaqi transmitted in <i>Shu'ab al-iman</i>

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «الْمُتَبَارِيَانِ لَا يُجَابَانِ وَلَا يُؤْكَلُ طَعَامُهُمَا» . قَالَ الْإِمَامُ أَحْمَدُ: يَعْنِي المتعارضين بالضيافة فخراً ورياء

‘Imran b. Husain said God’s Messenger forbade accepting invitations to food provided by profligates. Baihaqi transmitted in <i>Shu'ab al-iman</i>

وَعَن عمرَان ين حُصَيْنٍ قَالَ: نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِجَابَة طَعَام الْفَاسِقين

Abu Huraira reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “When one of you visits his brother Muslim he should eat of his food without asking questions and drink from what he provides without asking questions.” Baihaqi transmitted the three traditions in <i>Shu'ab al-iman</i>, saying that if [the last one] is sound, it is because a Muslim would obviously give him only food and drink which were lawful in his opinion.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِذَا دَخَلَ أَحَدُكُمْ عَلَى أَخِيهِ الْمُسْلِمِ فَلْيَأْكُلْ مِنْ طَعَامِهِ وَلَا يَسْأَلْ وَيَشْرَبْ مِنْ شَرَابِهِ وَلَا يَسْأَلْ» رَوَى الْأَحَادِيثَ الثَّلَاثَة الْبَيْهَقِيّ فِي «شُعَبِ الْإِيمَانِ» وَقَالَ: هَذَا إِنْ صَحَّ فَلِأَنَّ الظَّاهِرَ أَنَّ الْمُسْلِمَ لَا يُطْعِمُهُ وَلَا يسْقِيه إِلَّا مَا هُوَ حَلَال عِنْده