The wedding
rituals are very similar in all social classes. I experienced this when I got a
chance to attend a Muslim wedding of a friend of mine. The first step in the
process of Nikkah was the marriage
proposal, which included a discussion by the amount that the groom should pay
to the family of his future wife and the dowry that the bride should bring to
the marital home. Normally, a woman's dowry consisted of the furnishings for
the house and clothes, although the wealthiest families could include jewelry
and other valuables.
Setting the
wedding date was another task, which was done by an astrologer who determined
the auspicious day of wedding. However, these were some of the initial steps of
the wedding, which were accomplished months before the wedding day.
On the wedding
day, the bride was given a ceremonial bath. The festivities began at the home
of the bride and lasted a week. The female relatives to the bride adorned the
bride and prayed for the happy and blissful married life of the bride and groom.
The wedding rituals were performed at a mosque, where all
the close relatives and friends of the bride and groom gathered, and witnessed
the wedding. Apart from the attendees, a court notary and two witnesses were
also present. Four conditions should be met for a Muslim wedding, which include:
- 1. Two witnesses.
- 2. Signature by the bride and groom.
- 3. Consent of both bride and groom & their families.
- 4. Presence of the father of the bride or her written consent
The contract praised God's name according to the rite of Islam and
the Imam read the first chapter of the Qur'an. The women of the family formed a procession,
leading the bride to her new home, where they waited for the groom and wedding
guests and become a part of a grand feast.
Author:
Rashmi Karan
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