Salafi Research Institute SRI
Itihaf ul-Basim Fi Tahqiq Muwatta al-Imam Malik [Talkhis al-Qabisi] Riwayah Abdur Rahman ibn al-Qasim
Tahqiq, Takhrij, Sharh
Muhadith Zubair Ali Zai
Translated Abu Ubaydah
Translated, Checked & Additional Notes
Abu Hibban & Abu Khuzaimah Ansaari
Condemning Those Who Only Call The Rich To A Walima (Wedding Feast)
[83] from Malik from Ibn Shihab from al-A’raj that Abu Huraira (Radi Allahu Anhu) said, “The worst food is the food of a wedding feast to which the rich are invited and the poor are left out. If anyone rejects an invitation, he has rebelled against Allah and His Messenger (Sallalahu Alayhi Wa Sallam).”
[GRADING] – [SAHIH]
Ibn Shihab az-Zuhri clarified hearing (this hadith from Abdurahman al-A’raj) in Muslim (108/1432)
[REFERENCES] – [AGREED UPON]
Al-Muwatta (Yahya’s narration 2/546 hadith no.1187, book 28, chapter 21, hadith no.50), at-Tamhid (10/175), al-Istidhkar: (no.1107)
Transmitted by Bukhari (no.5177) and Muslim (107/1432) from the hadith of Malik
[UNDERSTANDING FROM THE HADITH]
1) If the Walima does not contain evil, foolish and inappropriate things then it is Wajib meaning Fardh to accept the invitation of the Walima from a Muslim brother who has the correct aqida and to attend it.
2) If there is a Sharia compliant excuse then it is allowed to excuse oneself from the invitation of the Walima. The Messenger of Allah (Sallalahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said, “If any one of you is invited, he should accept (the invitation). In case he is fasting, he should pray (in order to bless the inmates of the house), and if he is not fasting he should eat.” (Sahih Muslim no.1431 [no.3520])
In another narration it is mentioned that you should accept the invitation of a Muslim brother whether it is a wedding invitation or anything like it. (Sahih Muslim no.1429 [no.3513])
3) Safina (Radi Allahu Anhu) said that a man prepared food for Ali ibn Abu Talib (Radi Allahu Anhu) who was his guest, and Fatima (Radi Allahu Anha) said: I wish we had invited the Messenger of Allah (Sallalahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) and he had eaten with us. So they invited him, and when he came he put his hands on the side of the door, he saw the figured curtain which had been put at the end of the house, so he went away (without eating). So Fatima (Radi Allahu Anha) said to Ali (Radi Allahu Anhu): Follow him and see what turned him back. I (Ali) followed him and asked: What turned you back, Messenger of Allah (Sallalahu Alayhi Wa Sallam)? He replied: It is not fitting for me or for any Prophet (Alayhimusalam) to enter a house which contains images and pictures.
(Sunan Abi Dawud, manuscript of mujtabaya vol. 2, pg. 171, hadith no.3755 and its chain is [Hasan] good, as-Sunan al-Kubra of al-Bayhaqi from the route of Abi Dawud 7/267, Sunan Ibn Maja no.3360, Musnad Ahmad 5/220-222)
From this it is known that some invitations can be rejected based on a Sharia compliant excuse.
