Timing of Walīmah After the Wedding Night

Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah – Tawḍīḥ al-Aḥkām, Vol. 2, p. 190

Question​

Is it established in the Sunnah to hold the walīmah (marriage feast) before the husband and wife consummate the marriage (i.e., before spending the wedding night together)?

Answer​

Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā baʿd:

Practice of the Prophet ﷺ​

Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī narration:
Anas رضي الله عنه said:


After the Prophet ﷺ spent his wedding night with one of his wives, he sent me to invite people for the walīmah.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 5170)

Imām al-Bayhaqī’s View​

In al-Sunan al-Kubrā, Imām al-Bayhaqī رحمه الله placed this narration under the heading: “Chapter: The Time of Walīmah”, indicating that it should be held after consummation of marriage.
(al-Sunan al-Kubrā, 7/260)

Another Ḥadīth on Delay of Walīmah​

Another narration shows that the Prophet ﷺ spent three nights with his wife Ṣafiyyah رضي الله عنها before Anas رضي الله عنه invited people to the walīmah.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 5159)

Sunnah Timing of Walīmah​

• Sunnah method: Walīmah should be held after the wedding night and the establishment of marital relations.
• Best practice: It should ideally be done within three days after consummation.

Additional Note​

The father of Imām Muḥammad ibn Sīrīn رحمه الله once held walīmah for eight days.
(al-Sunan al-Kubrā by al-Bayhaqī, 7/161 – authentic chain)


Hādhā mā ʿindī, wallāhu aʿlam biṣ-ṣawāb.