It is permissible; for the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) provided a banquet for Safiyya with Hais, and provided a banquet for some of his wives with two Mudds of barley. Narrated by al-Bukhari.

Section: It is not obligatory according to the opinion of the majority of the people of knowledge. Some of the companions of al-Shafi'i said: It is obligatory, because the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) commanded Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf to do it; and because responding to it is obligatory, thus it is obligatory. Our argument is that it is food for an occurring joy, so it is like other foods; the command is understood as being for recommendation based on the evidence we mentioned, and his command to use a sheep is not disputed as being not obligatory; and what they mentioned regarding the meaning has no foundation, and then it is invalidated by the rule of the greeting (Salam), for it is not obligatory [to initiate it], while responding to the person greeting is obligatory.

1218 - Issue: He said: (And whoever is invited must respond.)

Ibn Abd al-Barr said: There is no disagreement regarding the obligation of responding to the Walima for one who is invited to it, provided there is no vain amusement therein. This is the opinion of Malik, al-Thawri, al-Shafi'i, al-'Anbari, Abu Hanifah, and his companions. Among the companions of al-Shafi'i, some have said: It is a communal obligation (Fard Kifayah), because responding is a form of honoring and cementing ties, so it is like returning the greeting. Our argument is what Ibn Umar narrated, that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: "If one of you is invited to a Walima, let him attend it." In another narration he said: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: "Respond to this invitation if you are invited to it." Abu Hurayrah said: The worst of food is the food of the Walima; the wealthy are invited to it and the poor are left out, and whoever does not respond has disobeyed Allah and His Messenger. These were narrated by al-Bukhari. This is general, and the meaning of his saying, "The worst of food is the food of the Walima"—and Allah knows best—is that it is the food of the Walima to which one is invited.