Answered by: Maulana Mohammed Kamran Abid
Question
How soon after the Nikah should the Walimah take place?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Walimah is every food that is made for the happiness of the commencement of the marriage.[1] To have a Walimah is Sunnah and it is customarily done a few days after the Nikaah. There is not a stipulated time for the validity of Walimah. It is not necessary that Walimah is done after intercourse, rather some time is spent alone is enough for the couple to have their Walimah.
Only Allah knows best
Written by Maulana Mohammed Kamran Abid
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
[1] وَفِي الاِصْطِلاَحِ تَقَعُ الْوَلِيمَةُ عَلَى كُل طَعَامٍ يُتَّخَذُ لِسُرُورٍ حَادِثٍ مِنْ عُرْسٍ وَإِمْلاَكٍ وَغَيْرِهِمَا، لَكِنَّ اسْتِعْمَالَهَا مُطْلَقَةً فِي الْعُرْسِ أَشْهَرُ وَفِي غَيْرِهِ بِقَيْدٍ.
( الموسوعة الفقهية الكويتية, vol. 45, pg. 232, دارالسلاسل – الكويت)