Muslim Weddings in India

The Muslim population in Asia comprises of more than half the population of the world.  The continent is home to about 65% of Muslims living in various countries. The followers of Islam are found in every country, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia can easy be called Islamic nations. Indian and China also have good number of Muslim population. The regions of Gulf or Middle East have a good number, but majority of the Islamic followers reside in the Southeast Asia and South Asia.

Muslim Wedding in India

According to historians, the advent of Islam in Asia was around the 7^th Century. The chief reason for the spread of the religion from the Arabian Peninsula was due to trade. Traders and exporters came to the northeastern part of India, in the state of Manipur arrived through silk route. For the same reason, traders reached China. Religious leaders also came along and preached about the religion. In the southernmost state of India, Kerala, the first mosque was built. The Muslim Matrimony in India follows the wedding customs and traditions of the Arabian people.

The Muslim matrimony functions in India are based on the Islamic principles as followed in the Arab region. The propaganda of these traditions was the medieval Muslim rulers.  The Mogul rulers and sultans helped in spreading the Islamic traditions. The Muslim wedding is called ‘nikaah’ and the wedding rules are the same for the shia and sunni groups of Muslims. In India, the Muslim matrimony function is usually a family affair with close friends and relatives attending the wedding. The wedding in India has numerous rituals and lasts for about three days. Like all Islamic weddings, there is the signing of the Nikaahnama in the Indian Muslim Matrimonial. Like all Indian weddings, there is singing and dancing in a Muslim matrimony. Both at the groom’s house and at the bride’s place, the rituals are conducted following the Islamic rules.

Islam Matrimony - An Occasion to Remember

Marriages are made in heaven but solemnized on Earth; this is a famous adage, which holds true for the Islam matrimony as well. The concept of marriage means finding a life partner who is a friend, companion and confidante, and with whom one shares the entire life. Followers of Allah adhere to the Islamic religion and Nikah is the name given to Islam matrimony. It is basically a union of a man and woman, who agree to get married and stay together for their whole life. A lot of sanctity is observed in Islam matrimonies.

In Islam matrimony, a lot of preference is given to the close relatives and cousins while setting marriages. A significant place is occupied by “cousins” in their community and hence they have “parallel cousin” and “cross cousin” marriages. Possible matrimonial alliances are generally suggested by the elders of the family or community but with the changing times the boys and girls select their life partners according to their wishes as well. The boys and girls generally wish to have a cultured, beautiful, well educated, trustworthy and compatible person as their soul mate.

Like any other community, the Islam matrimony also takes place in three stages i.e. pre-wedding, wedding and post-wedding ceremonies. After the marriage has been fixed by both families, the groom’s mother visits the bride’s place and offers her sweets and gifts during pre-wedding ceremonies. The groom’s mother ties a gold or silver coin on the bride’s arm. This coin is believed to be very auspicious.

After the father of the groom fixes the marriage date, a gift, which is preferably cash, is sent to the bride’s father. Relatives of both sides gather and attend the engagement ceremony, also known as “mangani”. On this occasion, sweets, gifts, fruits, etc are exchanged. The bride wears yellow colored clothes during Manjha ceremony and turmeric is applied on her body. Turmeric is believed to have special properties that can make the bride’s skin glow, and make her look more beautiful. Another important ceremony observed in Islam matrimony is the mehendi ceremony where henna or mehendi is applied on the hands of the bride. Next, ‘Sanchaq’ is sent for the bride by the groom’s family, which includes clothes and jewelry for the Nikah. A beautiful and heavy bridal dress is chosen for the bride that is called a Sharara. A heavy and attractive duppatta is taken over the head as a mark of respect.

 The groom arrives at bride’s house in a procession which includes close relatives, friends and family members. The groom and bride’s brother drink sorbet when the procession reaches at bride’s place. The bride dresses in the clothes and jewelry sent to her as Sanchaq by groom’s family during the Nikah ceremony.

In Muslims, a Moulvi or a priest, in the presence of a Qazi (law officer), conducts the Nikah. Two men act as witnesses and the father of the bride and groom are also present during this ceremony as 'Walis'. The bride’s father is present to protect the rights of his daughter. The custom of “meher” is mandatory in Islam matrimony which is given to the bride as a nuptial gift by the groom’s family.

On this occasion, the Maulvi reads verses from Quran and then the Ijab-e-Qubul ceremony takes place in which the proposal is accepted. Next the groom’s proposal is accepted by the bride as the mutual consent is very important in Islam matrimony. The “nikahnama” is then signed by the couple after the proposal has been accepted. These ceremonies are then followed by a sumptuous feast and celebration where the newlyweds sit together in anticipation of their married life ahead.

Sonali writes on behalf of Jeevansathi.com, which is India’s fastest growing Matrimonial website.