67/73. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5177 — Including the Poor in the Wedding Banquet
If somebody refuses an invitation
Hadith About Walimah and Inviting the Poor
Sahih Bukhari : 5177
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5177
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، رضى الله عنه أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ شَرُّ الطَّعَامِ طَعَامُ الْوَلِيمَةِ يُدْعَى لَهَا الأَغْنِيَاءُ، وَيُتْرَكُ الْفُقَرَاءُ، وَمَنْ تَرَكَ الدَّعْوَةَ فَقَدْ عَصَى اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ صلى الله عليه وسلم.
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The worst food is that of a wedding banquet to which only the rich are invited while the poor are not invited. And he who refuses an invitation (to a banquet) disobeys Allah and His Apostle.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5177In-book reference : Book 67, Hadith 112USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 62, Hadith 106
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5177
This hadith about walimah and the poor gives a strong warning. Abu Huraira says that the worst food is the food of a wedding banquet where the rich are invited and the poor are left out. He also says that whoever refuses the invitation has disobeyed Allah and His Apostle. The core topic is fair invitation. The text does not speak about decoration, cost, or the size of the event. It focuses on who is invited and whether the invitation is accepted. A wedding banquet should not become a gathering only for people of wealth while poor people are ignored. At the same time, the narration also stresses that the person who is invited should respond to the invitation.
What we learn from this hadith
- The hadith warns against inviting only the rich while leaving out the poor.
- It connects the wedding banquet with fairness in invitation.
- Abu Huraira states that refusing the invitation is disobedience.
- The report focuses on guests and response, not on luxury.
