Q: Scenario: Nikah will take place after Asr/Maghrib. Thereafter ‘Khalwat Sahiha’ (husband and wife being alone) will take place. Thereafter a function will take place and will be called ‘the Waleemah’ however it will be like a wedding meaning the girl will wear a wedding dress etc. Will the above scenario be accepted as a Waleemah?
A. Waleemah may be held the same day as the Nikah, but after it, not before. And to comply with the Sunnah, the boy and girl should spend a few moments in seclusion after marrying and before the Waleemah. It is not necessary for them to engage in sexual relations in those few moments. For the Waleemah to be valid, the boy will pay for the expenses of the meal or at least a part thereof because Waleemah is usually given by the boy. If the girl’s family bears the entire expense, then this will not be counted as a Waleemah.
Allah Ta’aala knows best.
Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked by: Mufti Siraj Desai