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 The Muslim wedding rituals usually extend upto three days. The main characteristics of Muslim marriage culture revolve round the major custom of approval of the competent parties in front of witnesses. Muslims observe colorful marriage customs in different parts of the world depending upon their local cultures.
The Muslim wedding rituals are best known for inviting and welcoming the guests. This kind of Muslim marriage culture offers the people an opportunity to entertain guests in bulk and strengthen their social bonds. Besides, the bride and groom, their families, neighbors and friends also enjoy the marriage event with different rituals. The marriage venue does not have any particular rule and can be either in the bride or groom`s house. Their marriages are not extravagant, but reflect a noticeable expression of love and affection.
Pre-wedding rituals
 " The Mehndi ceremony is held at the home of the bride a couple of days before marriage. The female relatives of the girl smear her with turmeric paste to bring out the glow in her complexion and a mehndiwali applies mehndi on the hands of the bride. The event reflects a festive feeling and the women attending the ritual sing traditional songs. The bride wears her best clothes. According to custom, the bride must not step out of the house for the next few days until her marriage. The bride`s cousins sometimes apply a dot of mehndi on the palm of the groom..
 " Welcoming the baraat is another pre marital custom among the Muslims. The groom arrives at the wedding venue with his baraat and a band of musicians strike up some traditional notes to announce their arrival. The groom shares a drink of sherbet along with the bride`s brother or relative. The bride`s sisters play pranks and slap the guests playfully with graceful bouquets made of flowers.
Wedding rituals
The Nikaah or wedding ceremony can be conducted at the home of the bride or the groom, or at any other suitable venue. A Maulvi or the priest in the presence of close family members and relatives conducts the ceremony of Nikaah. In orthodox Muslim communities, the men and women sit separately. The `Walis` or the father of the bride and of the bridegroom plays a vital role in the ceremony. The Maulvi reads selected verses from the Quran and the Nikaah is complete after the Ijab-e-Qubul, which is the proposal and acceptance. The groom proposes and the bride conveys her assent. The mutual consent of the bride and groom is of great importance for the marriage in order to make it legal.
On the day of the Nikaah, the elder members of the two families sit together and decide the amount of Mehar or nuptial gift. The Mehar is an obligatory amount of money given by the groom`s family to the bride.
The Nikaahnaama is a document in which the marriage contract is registered. Nikaahnaama contains a set of terms and conditions that must be respected by both the parties and it also gives the bride the right to divorce her husband. To legalise it, the signature of the bridegroom, the bride, the Walis, and the Maulvi is compulsory.
" The next stage comes, when the groom receives blessings from the older women and offers them his salaam. The guests pray for the well being and prosperity of the newly-weds.
" Dinner, Prayers and Aarsimashaf are the customs followed on the wedding day itself. Dinner is a lavish spread. Usually, the women and the men dine separately. After dinner, the newly-weds sits together for the first time. Covering their head with a dupatta, they read prayers under the direction of the maulvi (priest). The Quran is placed between the couple and they are allowed to see each other through mirrors.
Post-wedding rituals
Rukshat is the custom, where the bride`s family bids her a tearful farewell before she leaves her father`s house for her husband`s residence. The bride`s father gives her hand to her husband and requests him to protect and take good care of his daughter.
The custom of welcoming the bride is done at the groom`s house. The groom`s mother holds the Quran above the head of her new daughter-in-law as then she enters her new home for the first time after the wedding.
The Chauthi ceremony is conducted on the fourth day after the wedding, when the bride visits the home of her parents. The bride receives a blissful welcome on this day.
The Valimah is the lavish reception on behalf of the groom`s family. It is a joyous occasion that brings together the two families, their relatives and other well-wishers.
The Muslim wedding rituals are some of the most simple and enjoyable rituals, where the bride and the groom themselves enjoy amidst the merrymaking of their marriage.
More on Indian Religious Weddings
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More on Types of Marriages
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| (Last Updated on : 10/01/2009) |
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