The Islamic marriage ceremony represents a sacred agreement between a man and a woman, guiding them towards paradise. Before the actual ceremony, there are several pre-wedding customs that are observed.
One of the most significant of these is the Nikah. In this ceremony, the Maulvi asks both the groom and bride to consent to marriage. They both have to say “Qubool Hai” thrice to confirm their agreement.
Nikah
The Islamic wedding is a beautiful depiction of religious traditions and is one of the most important occasions in a Muslim's life. It symbolizes the marriage of two people, and it is a time when families unite to celebrate their love.
The Nikah is the core of every Muslim wedding ceremony. It is a ceremony in which the bride and groom bind themselves to each other by saying three times that they accept each other as husband and wife and agree to the terms of the marriage contract. They then sign the Nikah with two male witnesses to make it official in the eyes of Allah, who is the one and only God in Islam.
A Nikah is also a very personal and intimate ceremony where the bride and groom are asked to read a portion of the Quran from the Fatiha (the first chapter of the Quran). This prayer is meant to bring blessings to the couple as well as guide them in their marriage.
After the Nikah, the bride and groom leave the mosque and head to their new home as married couple. This is a very emotional and touching moment in a Muslim wedding that would have lots of eyes leaking.
During this ceremony, the family of the groom presents the bride with a gift called the Mahr, which is a dowry that signifies his commitment to her. This dowry is generally monetary, but can also include jewelry or property.
During the wedding, the bride and groom will wear their traditional bridal ghararas, which are a short, mid-thigh-length dress that is usually made of silk brocade or embroidered with zari work. Their hair will be in an elaborate braided bun with a tiara on top, and they will wear matching shoes.
Baraat
The baraat, also known as the groom's procession, is an age-old islamic wedding caption. It is the most exciting part of the ceremony! The groom and his entourage arrive in a variety of ways, including on a horse or in a fancy car.
The barat is a fun-filled, joyous event that is full of music and dancing. It is usually a short, but important ceremony that leads up to the main wedding celebrations.
When the baraat arrives at the wedding venue, they are greeted by the bride's family with gifts and love. The guests are then served with cold drinks, snacks and sweets as a way to welcome the new couple into their family.
Traditionally, the baraat stayed at the wedding venue for two-three days. This gave the groom a chance to spend time with his family and make friends. However, today's couples usually only have a few hours for this ceremony.
In the past, the groom and his family would travel a long distance to the bride's village to attend the ceremony. This meant that he was vulnerable to robbers during the journey. This is why he was always accompanied by a Sarbala, or assistant groom, who protected him throughout the process.
Nowadays, baraats are shorter and much more organized. They typically include a band, dancers and even a DJ!
The procession starts with the groom riding a horse and then his entire group (often with a drummer or dhol player in the back). Next is the bride's family. This is a very important and emotional event for both sides of the family.
The baraat then dismounts and the bride's family welcomes them with hugs, kisses, and other affectionate gestures. This is followed by the Milni, where relatives from both sides of the families meet for the first time.
Walima
The islamic wedding caption is one of the most important aspects of an Islamic wedding. It is a way for the bride and groom to share their joy with their family and friends. It is a great opportunity for the guests to spend time together and make lasting memories.
The word walima is an Arabic term that means to assemble or gather together for the purpose of celebrating a marriage, birthday, or housewarming party. It is also a common term used in American and English culture to describe any gathering or celebration.
In the Islamic world, weddings are the best time for building relationships between friends and families. Hence, it is customary for the couple to invite their family members and close friends to the nikah ceremony and the walima, the reception.
Typically, the groom’s family hosts this event for their guests, and they pay for everything from the food to the decorations. They are also responsible for transportation for the guests.
This walima is generally considered the most festive and fun of all the wedding events in the Islamic world. The event includes floral decor, full-blast entertainment, and sumptuous food for the guests.
Many couples choose to invite their friends and relatives for this reception, as well as professional entertainers to perform. These entertainers often include a live band or comedian.
It is important to remember that this is a religious event, and the guests should be treated with respect. For instance, it is not acceptable to serve alcohol at this walima. Similarly, it is not a good idea to allow the men and women to dance together. This is a serious violation of the religion’s halal guidelines.
Mehndi
In India, henna is a traditional art form that is used to decorate brides’ hands and feet for weddings. Traditionally, brides are invited to a mehndi party to have their hands and feet adorned with intricate henna designs before the big day.
Henna is a natural plant that provides a dark colored dye and stains the skin. Once the top layer of skin is removed and exfoliated, the henna design fades away. The best areas of the body to apply henna are the hands and feet.
Mehndi is a beautiful body art that lasts a month or more, depending on the type of henna used. It is a great way to express your love and devotion for your partner.
In some countries, including India and Pakistan, it is common for both the bride and groom to be painted with mehndi before the marriage ceremony. In Rajasthan, for instance, grooms are given mehndi designs that are just as intricate as those for the bride.
One of the most common designs for a mehndi party is a mandala pattern. This is a geometric configuration of symbols that are found in many spiritual traditions and cultures.
Aside from this traditional pattern, a wide variety of other patterns can be applied to the palm. These include vines, lace, flowers, and other intricate designs that are inspired by different cultures.
To create a beautiful henna design, buy henna paste and a set of tools to apply the design. These items can include application bottles, cones with tips, syringes, toothpicks and more.
Once the henna paste has been applied, it will take about an hour to dry and harden. Once the henna is ready, the design will be applied to the hands and feet of the bride and her guests.
Reception
The reception is the second major ceremony that takes place after the wedding. It is an opportunity for the bride and groom to spend time with their family, friends, and guests. Typically, this is a large and lavish event where the bride and groom receive gifts, food, fun, and dancing.
The first ceremony of the wedding reception is known as the Baraat. This is a beautiful and extravagant procession that takes place as the groom and his party make their way to the venue of the reception. During this ritual, a beautifully decorated car is sent by the bride’s family to take the groom to the wedding venue.
Upon arrival at the bride’s house or wedding venue, the groom is greeted by his closest brother-in-law who gives him a drink of Sherbet. This is believed to be a symbol of a successful marriage.
After this, the couple is officially proclaimed to be married for the first time. This is an emotional moment and one that you won’t want to miss out on!
There are many things to keep in mind during this first ceremony. Some of them include dressing conservatively, not shaking hands with the other gender, and mingling with people who aren’t Muslim.
Another important thing to keep in mind is that no alcohol is allowed during the reception. Although this may seem like a no-brainer, you’ll be surprised at how many people don’t follow this rule.
When planning your own wedding, it is important to think about all of the details that will make it a successful and memorable occasion. If you are planning a Muslim wedding, it’s especially important to consider all of these factors.
