Question Summary:
I know that the walima ceremony is sunnat. can u please tell me if it is permissible to have a walima ceremony years later after a marriage.

Question Detail:

I know that the walima ceremony is sunnat. can u please tell me if it is permissible to have a walima ceremony years later after a marriage.

Answer :

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Assalaamu `alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
We acknowledge receipt of your enquiries and the response follows hereunder:
Nikah is a sacred act which brings two people together in a lawful manner.  Shariah desires nikah to be announced so people are aware of the nikah.  One method of informing people of the nikah and also to share the happiness brought by the of the husband and wife is walima.  Nabi (Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam) did walima for his marriages and encouraged others to do walima as well.
The ideal manner to do walima is after the consummation.  However, it is not necessary for the husband and wife to have consummation to do a walima. If the couple had spent some time after the marriage in seclusion, the laws of consummation will apply.  Nevertheless, if a person arranges meals after the marriage and made intention for walima, it will be permissible.  He will not have to give another walima meal. 
Fatawa Mahmoodiyya (12/141) Jamia Farooqia
Aap Kay Masa’il Aur Unka Hal (5/165) Maktaba Bayyinat
Awjaz al-Masalik (9/436) Idara Talifat Ashrafiyya
‘Ala al-Sunan (11/16) Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyya 
أنس بن مالك - رضى الله عنه - أنه كان ابن عشر سنين مقدم رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - المدينة ، فكان أمهاتى يواظبننى على خدمة النبى - صلى الله عليه وسلم - فخدمته عشر سنين ، وتوفى النبى - صلى الله عليه وسلم - وأنا ابن عشرين سنة ، فكنت أعلم الناس بشأن الحجاب حين أنزل ، وكان أول ما أنزل فى مبتنى رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - بزينب ابنة جحش ، أصبح النبى - صلى الله عليه وسلم - بها عروسا ، فدعا القوم فأصابوا من الطعام ، ثم خرجوا وبقى رهط منهم عند الن(رواه البخارى)...قال الشيخ ظفر احمد العثمانى: (عن انس) إلخ: قال المؤلف فى ((فتح البارى)): عن ابن السبكى عن أبيه والمنقول من فعل النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم أنها بعد الدخول كأنه يشير إلى قصة زينب بنت جحش. وقد ترجم عليه البهيقى وقت الوليمة (إعلاء السنن)
It is permissible to have the Walima after the Nikah but preferable after consummation.  There is no Qadha for walima, however if you want to feed the people it will be permissible and will be rewarded.
 
And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best


Wassalamu Alaykum


Ml. Mohammad Ashhad bin Said
Correspondence Iftaa Student, Mauritius
 
Checked and Approved by:
 
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In'aamiyyah