Is the hadith that states, "The worst of food is the food of the wedding feast, to which the rich are invited and from which the poor are excluded, yet if you are invited, then respond," authentic? And what is the problem with the wedding feast food if the poor are not invited to it? And is it necessary to invite them for the attribute of 'worst' to be removed from it?

The aforementioned hadith regarding the wedding feast is authentic, and its meaning is that the worst food is that of the wedding feast to which the rich are invited and the poor are left out. This indicates arrogance and a lack of sincerity in expressing gratitude. The original purpose of a wedding feast is to publicize the marriage and display joy, so relatives, neighbors, and friends, including both the rich and the poor, should be invited. Other public feasts, such as the aqiqah, are analogous to this. As for private feasts, such as inviting a friend or a relative, there is no harm in them as long as the intention is good and there is no discrimination based on wealth.