Question:
What is the ruling on doing an feast for a new blessing from building a house or completing the Quraan and it’s from the customs of the country, and the intent is giving thanks for the blessing?
Answer:
The conclusion of that is that it wasn’t known amongst the Salaf may Allah be pleased with them – with the abundance of good occurring amongst them, and memorizing Quran and likewise the occurrence of blessings amongst them – that they used to memorize the Quran or memorize Bukhari or complete such and such book, then he made a banquet to feed the people because of that, this takes more priority, that it not to be acted upon, ya’nee following what they were upon.
But verily it occurred from Ibn Hajr, and some of the later Imams and the likes of that, and the best guidance is the guidance of the Prophet ﷺ.
(وَٱلسَّبِقُونَ ٱلْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُهَٰجِرِينَ وَٱلْأَنصَارِ وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُم بِإِحْسَٰنٍ رَّضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُ)
“And the first to embrace Islam of the Muhajirun (those who migrated from Makkah to Al-Madinah) and the Ansar (the citizens of Al-Madinah who helped and gave aid to the Muhajirun) and also those who followed them exactly (in Faith). Allah is well-pleased with them as they are well-pleased with Him.”
[At-Taubah:100]
And one of them would prostrate for thanks if he acquired a blessing, whether is was the blessing of a child or the blessing of completing a building or something of the likes of that which makes him happy, he prostrate to Allah the prostration of thanks for that blessing.
As for banquets which he makes it his aim to do at a new blessing, it wasn’t known from the Salaf, abandoning those banquets take more precedence and prostrating to Allah
إن الله ليرضى عن العبد أن يأكل الأكلة فيحمده عليها ، أو يشرب الشربة فيحمده عليها
Verily Allaah is pleased with a slave that eats a meals then praises Him for it (i.e., says Al-Hamdulillaah) or drinks a drink then praises Him for it”.
فَٱذْكُرُونِىٓ أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَٱشْكُرُوا۟ لِى وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ
“Therefore remember Me (by praying, glorifying, etc.). I will remember you, and be grateful to Me (for My countless Favors on you) and never be ungrateful to Me.” [Al-Baqarah:152]
(وَمَن شَكَرَ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِۦۖ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ رَبِّى غَنِىٌّ كَرِيم)ٌ
“And whoever is grateful, truly, his gratitude is for (the good of) his ownself, and whoever is ungrateful, (he is ungrateful only for the loss of his ownself). Certainly! My Lord is Rich (Free of all wants), Bountiful.”
[An-Naml:40]
(وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْۖ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِى لَشَدِيد)ٌ
“And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed: “If you give thanks (by accepting Faith and worshipping none but Allah), I will give you more (of My Blessings), but if you are thankless (i.e. disbelievers), verily! My Punishment is indeed severe.” [Ibrahim:7]
This is showing gratitude for the blessing and what is of it’s likes, as for Sadaqah and donations and feeding and what is of it’s likes, it occurred from some of them, but it wasn’t known with the earlier ones, so abandoning it takes more precedence.
Answered by: Shaykh, the Allamah, the Trustworthy Advisor, Abu Abdirrahman Yahya bin Ali Al-Hajuri – may Allah preserve him
Source: https://t.me/sh_yahia_duroos/9484
Translated by: Abū ‘Abdillāh ‘Omar bin Yahya Al-‘Akawi