the wealthy are invited to it and the poor are left out, and he did not mean that the food of every Walima is the worst of food; for if he had meant that, he would not have commanded it, nor encouraged it, nor commanded that one respond to it, nor practiced it himself. Furthermore, responding becomes obligatory upon receiving an invitation; so whoever is invited, the response becomes obligatory upon him.

Section: Responding is only obligatory upon one who has been specified by the invitation, such as by inviting a specific individual or specific group of people. If he issues a general invitation (Jafala), by saying, "O people, respond to the Walima," or if the messenger says, "I was commanded to invite everyone I met, or whomever I wish," then responding is not obligatory, nor is it recommended; because he was not specified by the invitation, so responding does not become specified for him. Furthermore, he is not explicitly named, and the heart of the inviter is not broken by failing to respond to him. Responding is, however, permissible in this case, as it is included in the general [nature of the] invitation.

Section: If the Walima is prepared for more than a day, it is permissible; for al-Khallal narrated with his chain of narration from Ubayy that he got married and invited the Ansar for eight days. If one is invited on the first day, responding is obligatory; on the second day, responding is recommended; and on the third day, it is not recommended. Ahmad said: The first is obligatory, the second if one wishes, and the third is not. This is also the school of al-Shafi'i. It has been narrated from the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) that he said: "The Walima on the first day is a right, on the second it is a recognized custom (Ma'ruf), and on the third it is showing off and seeking fame (Riya' and Sum'a)." Narrated by Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, and others. Sa'id ibn al-Musayyib also said this. Sa'id was invited to a Walima twice and he responded, but when he was invited a third time, he threw pebbles at the messenger. Narrated by Abu Dawud and al-Khallal.