A Muslim marriage is a very special event, as it brings two souls together for a life-time of marriage. Like in all societies, a Muslim wedding celebration is considered to be a wonderful and big occasion. In some traditions, Muslim wedding ceremonies are very expensive and lavish, while in others, they are kept conservative and simple.
Muslim weddings in different countries are fairly similar to wedding traditions of most other cultures. Some tend to be more Islamic while others adopt traditions that are general with other cultures. Muslim marriages and weddings in various countries differ somewhat, as some cultures favor to introduce more Islamic ceremonies than others.
The reason for different marriage concept is that some individuals and families believe that Islamic weddings should be based on simplicity rather than pomp and show while others believe that Muslim weddings should be celebrated joyfully. Since greater part of Muslims love celebrating weddings, the Islamic wedding can span onto a period of weeks and celebration includes a mixture of religious and cultural activities and rites. The basic pillar of an Islamic wedding is the nikkah ceremony which is the main point in any Muslim marriage. The nikkah ceremony is mostly the signing of the nikkah document in the presence of four witnesses.
Similar to other cultures marriages the wedding venue is the house of the bride where the groom arrives on the wedding day with his friends and family. They are welcomed amidst much banter and teasing by the relations of the bride. The bride is generally decked in the jewelry and clothes that had been sent to her by the groom’s family. The bride-groom on the other hand wears a sherwani and a topi on his head.
After the nikkah the groom is blessed by the elderly ladies present there and the guests pray for the happy married life of the newly weds. This is followed by a splendid meal and the ladies and the gentlemen are separately served. The maulvi places the Quran between the groom and bride and they can see each other only through mirrors. The bride next leaves for her new home where she looks forward to start her new beautiful life. Valimah is the luxurious reception that is hosted by the groom’s family and this serves to bring both the families together and is a joyous occasion.
Marriage is both a religious duty in Islam as well as a social necessity. A great emphasis is thus laid on the religious as well as social the dimensions of the ceremony.
Muslim wedding are full of pleasure and Colors
Muslim marriages are significant part of their religion and culture and every single step in the wedded process is taken very seriously. Islamic weddings are not considered as a decision taken among two persons only and sometimes the decisions of the family have a big impact on the final verdict.
When a single Muslim man and woman make a decision to tie the knot, first they have to get the approval of both the families. Although the approval is not compulsory but the cultural values say that the parents need to be okay with the decision made by the young couple. Muslim wedding is an important decision and unless the families are on board, the couple can’t hope for a pleasurable marriage. Muslim marriages are family events in which family members from different towns and cities gather together to enjoy the ceremony and the festivities involved. Muslim weddings are celebrated with joy and cultural rituals and the colorful clothes make them even more unique.
The real wedding ceremony is referred to as Nikaah, the bride and the groom are kept in separate rooms and there is a shade that separates the two. The walis, the fathers of the groom and the bride play an important role in a Muslim wedding. The wedding is conducted by a maulvi who reads passages from the holy Quran to solemnize the marriage. The agreement of both the groom and the bride is taken and is registered in the Nikaah-nama which is the sacred marriage document. This is later signed by the bride and the groom.
After the nikkah ceremony, there are a lot of ceremonies to celebrate the signing of the marriage contract. The Walima ceremony is also an important part of Muslim weddings and is celebrated after a day or two after the signing of the nikkah contract and is a banquet offered by the family of the groom. Muslim marital services are also provided by many agencies and online websites which help the young Muslim men and Muslim women in finding the perfect match. Muslim weddings are only the beginning of a journey which both the groom and the bride embark upon with best wishes from the family.
Muslim families that are either less wealthy or conservative avoid lavish weddings, as they think them to be unnecessary expenses. In its place, they choose to give the groom and bride money for starting a family.
