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.

Section: The invitation to a Walima is a permission to enter and to eat, based on the evidence of what Abu Hurayra narrated from the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) that he said: "If one of you is invited and he comes along with the messenger, that is permission for him." Narrated by Abu Dawud. Abd Allah ibn Mas'ud said: "If you are invited, you have been given permission." Narrated by Imam Ahmad in his chain of narration.

Section: If a Dhimmi (a non-Muslim citizen) invites him, our companions have said: Responding to his invitation is not obligatory, because responding to a Muslim is [an act of] honoring, showing allegiance, and reinforcing affection and brotherhood, and this is not obligatory for a Muslim towards a Dhimmi. Furthermore, one cannot be secure from his food being mixed with unlawful items or impurities. However, it is permissible to respond to them, for it was narrated that Anas said a Jew invited the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) to barley bread and rancid fat (Ihala sanikha), and he responded to him. It was mentioned by Imam Ahmad in al-Zuhd.