Walima, a Tradition or an Obligation?
By Dr Aslam Abdullah
Fontana,CA

The word walima comes from the Arabic word awlama , meaning to gather or assemble. It refers to a feast to express domestic happiness in the household post-marriage.

Although it is to celebrate a marriage celebration, it also relates to festivities at the birth of a newborn and purchasing a new home. However, one crucial function of walima is to announce publicly that the newlyweds are off-limits for any marriage proposal.

Scholars have different views on the time of walima . Some believe it should occur at the time of the wedding contract (nikah); others say it should happen after nikah and before consummation. Some say that walima is due at the wedding procession, while others recommend it after consummation.

Who should organize the walima? How many people should attend it? In several Muslim cultures, the bride and bridegroom's families arrange two separate functions to express their happiness in addition to several other festivities. They usually host big gatherings with lavish arrangements. None has religious significance. The two can host a unified function as walima with a minimum number of household members to celebrate. People need not spend large amount of money on the celebration. Simplicity is the essence of our faith that promotes humility in all aspects.

The faith does not call for show-off or lavish arrangements. Nevertheless, weddings have become a significant expenditure, in almost all religious communities. From the wedding dress to food items to decoration, they cost a substantial amount. Parents can give the same amount to the newlyweds to begin their new life on a solid financial footing.

It is better to host wedding ceremonies in masajid. The irony is that people spend millions on weddings while insisting on Mehr (gift from groom to bride) equivalent to what Prophet's son-in-law gave to his daughter. Such an amount is no more than 50 dollars in our times. The purpose of this gift was to assure the bride that she would have enough to support herself if such a situation arose.

(Dr Aslam Abdullah is a resident scholar at Islamicity.org and editor-in-chief of the Muslim Observer newspaper. He is also the Indian Islamic Heritage Project director of the American Federation of Muslims of Indian origin and the interim President of the World Council of Muslims for Interfaith Relations, WCMIR.)