Abandonment of Walima

Abandonment of Walima

Hadhrat Muhammad Bin Salaam Sikandari (rahmatullah alayh) said: “The Sunnat style of Walimah has been abandoned. The method of serving Walimah food (during the time of the Sahaabah) was for the utensils of food to be brought to the Musjid during the morning. Everyone, rich and poor, high and low, would participate in the Walimah food. If the Walimah function was restricted to the wealthy, no one would eat of the food. They would say that such food is evil.”

Hadhrat Luqmaan (alayhis salaam), proffering advice to his son, said: “O my son! Stay away from invitations. Answering invitations remind you of the dunya and its desires.” Hadhrat Shafeeq Bin Ibraahim (rahmatullah alayh) said: “Nowadays, walimahs are no longer according to the Sunnah. Accepting invitations causes me pain.”

The standard of Taqwa in the early era of Islam was exceptionally high. In the age in which we live, the preponderance of mushtabah and haraam food has desensitized the heart. The heart covered by layer upon layer of spiritual corrosion has become impervious to unlawful and doubtful food, sin and transgression. Even so-called ulama argue that this is not an age of abstention from mushtabah. Even haraam food is proclaimed halaal. All restraint in this sphere has been abandoned. Filth and carrion are freely consumed.

Earnings are contaminated and even haraam. Food acquired with such money is likewise contaminated. It exercises a disastrous spiritual effect on the Rooh. Mushtabah food effaces the spiritual lustre which Taqwa generates in the heart of the Mu’min. The inclination for righteous deeds is eliminated, and in some cases despite the intellectual inclination and desire to practise deeds of piety, there is no spiritual energy and enthusiasm to cultivate Taqwa. It is for this very reason that Allah Ta’ala commanded the Ambiya to exercise extreme care regarding the food they consume. The Qur’aan cites halaal tayyib food as the foundation for the structure of piety.

The spiritual lustre which is the effect of Thikrullah and Ibaadat is not acquired by a person who is not careful regarding the food he consumes. A haraam or even a mushtabah morsel causes considerable spiritual havoc which eliminates the glitter of the Rooh. Hadhrat Abdullah Ibn Mubaarak (rahmatullah alayh) said that abstention from one mushtabah dirham (a silver coin) is more beneficial than giving 600,000 dirhams to Sadqah.

In our time no care whatsoever is given to this aspect of the Deen. The aim is only to acquire. The source of the earning and its manner are of no concern. Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said that the time will come when the concern will be only to acquire wealth regardless of it being halaal or haraam. As long as money is acquired, the objective of man’s craving is satisfied. How the money comes and from where it comes, no longer concern Muslims.

Thus, we find every facet of our life to be corrupt. Due to the reckless disregard which Muslims have nowadays for halaal and haraam, all barkat has been eliminated from all departments of our life. Our homes, places of business, Musaajid, Madaaris, Khaanqas, Ibaadat, marriages, professions and all other spheres of activity are bereft of barkat (blessings) and aafiyat (safety).

Haraam food is not restricted to food with haraam ingredients or to meat slaughtered un-Islamically. Halaal food also becomes haraam if acquired with haraam money or in ways which are haraam. This concern was so overwhelming among the Sahaabah that Hadhrat Umar (radhiyallahu anhu) said: “We used to abstain from nine tenths of halaal ways of earning for fear of riba.” But today, Ulama are legalizing nine tenths of riba and other haraam dealings by the accursed stratagem of Ta’weel Baatil (baseless interpretation). Maut and the Aakhirah do not feature any more in the daily life of Muslims. There is therefore no restraining influence to curb the inordinate craving and lust of the bestial nafs.

Hadhrat Ibraahim Bin Adham (rahmatullah alayh) said: “As long as a man is not scrupulous regarding his food, he will not gain the proximity of Allah Ta’ala only by virtue of abundance of worship.”