I know that the walima ceremony is sunnat. can u please tell me if it is permissible to have a walima ceremony years later after a marriage.

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Assalaamu `alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

We acknowledge receipt of your enquiries and the response follows hereunder:

Nikah is a sacred act which brings two people together in a lawful manner. Shariah desires nikah to be announced so people are aware of the nikah. One method of informing people of the nikah and also to share the happiness brought by the of the husband and wife is walima. Nabi (Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam) did walima for his marriages and encouraged others to do walima as well.

The ideal manner to do walima is after the consummation. However, it is not necessary for the husband and wife to have consummation to do a walima. If the couple had spent some time after the marriage in seclusion, the laws of consummation will apply. Nevertheless, if a person arranges meals after the marriage and made intention for walima, it will be permissible. He will not have to give another walima meal.

Fatawa Mahmoodiyya (12/141) Jamia Farooqia

Aap Kay Masa’il Aur Unka Hal (5/165) Maktaba Bayyinat

Awjaz al-Masalik (9/436) Idara Talifat Ashrafiyya

‘Ala al-Sunan (11/16) Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyya

It is permissible to have the Walima after the Nikah but preferable after consummation. There is no Qadha for walima, however if you want to feed the people it will be permissible and will be rewarded.

And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

Wassalamu Alaykum

Ml. Mohammad Ashhad bin Said

Correspondence Iftaa Student, Mauritius

Checked and Approved by:

Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa