Chapter on the Walimah and the Etiquette of Eating
The wedding walimah is an emphatically recommended sunnah2.
Responding to the first invitation is obligatory, provided one has no valid excuse and no objectionable act is involved.
Accepting a second invitation is recommended, whereas a third is disliked.
This obligation applies only when the host is a Muslim whom it is unlawful to boycott and whose income is lawful.
If his wealth contains unlawful elements, it is reprehensible3 to accept his invitation, to engage in transactions with him, or to accept his gift; the degree of reprehensibility rises or falls according to the extent of the unlawful portion of his wealth.
When two or more people invite him, he is obliged4 to respond to them all if he can attend them together; otherwise he should accept the invitation of the one who spoke first, then of the most pious, then of the closest relative, then of the nearest neighbor, and if no preference remains he should draw lots.
He should not attend merely for the food itself, but rather with the intention of following the sunnah, honoring his believing brother, and avoiding any suspicion of arrogance.