Choosing to get married through civil means or following Islamic Sharia (Syariah) law is a crucial decision for couples contemplating matrimony. This choice has significant implications on their legal entitlements and duties across various aspects of life.
In Islam, marriage is a sacred ceremony that must be solemnized in the presence of a clergyman. Traditionally, imams played this role in Muslim society.
Segregation of Men and Women
In some Muslim countries, women are required to wear a hijab, covering their heads and bodies. This is done in order to maintain the moral values of chastity and purity, which are important in Islamic society.
In civil wedding islam, men and women are segregated, usually with separate seating areas or rooms. This helps to maintain the family structure of many Muslim communities and ensures that all guests feel included in the celebrations.
A wali, or male guardian, will be present at the ceremony to represent the bride. He will also have the responsibility of ensuring that the bride gives her consent to the marriage.
The wali will also be responsible for ensuring that the couple are both on their best behavior during the ceremony, as well as the wedding day itself. This is to prevent any problems from occurring after the wedding.
It is also important to note that it is illegal for a man to go to any woman and satisfy his physical needs without first marrying her. This is known as adultery in Islam and is a very serious sin.
Another reason for separating the male and female guests at a Muslim wedding is to protect them from a very serious disease called hasad, which can strike a person with devastating effects. It can be very hard to identify and deal with, and it can be a difficult ordeal for those who are struck with it.
There are some exceptions to this rule, however. In particular, there are certain occasions where mixing of men and women is permitted by Islam, such as da’wah (invitation to Islam). There is also the case of women praying in mosques.
The Wali
The Wali is the lawful guardian of a woman according to Islamic law. This person can be a male or a female, but he must consent to the marriage before the ceremony and must be present during the registration process.
The wali, who has a Muslim identity, may solemnise a marriage on behalf of the bride if she is not able to do so. However, the wali should obtain approval from the Regional Office of Multimedia Melahisation (ROMM) before the wedding takes place.
In addition to this, the wali must also provide a statutory declaration that all documents have been verified before the ceremony. This can be done in person at ROMM or via video link.
Once the wali has given consent, the couple must then go to the masjid and meet with the wali again, this time to sign the marriage contract. This will make the marriage official according to both religious and civil laws.
After the wali has signed the marriage contract, the couple can proceed to have their nikah. This portion of the ceremony is generally done at the masjid, but it can also be held at a venue or home depending on the couples preference.
Traditionally, the wali will recite a portion of the Quran to the couple and give them a short sermon about the meaning of the nikah. They will also be required to agree on a mahr, which is an amount of money that the groom must pay to the bride. This gift symbolises the groom's responsibility for the future of their family and to ensure that their marriage is a happy one.
At the end of this portion of the ceremony, the wali will ask the couple to repeat the word "qubool" or "I accept," three times. This part of the ceremony is important, as it makes sure that both the bride and groom have given their consent to the marriage.
If a marriage is not authorised by a wali, it will be invalid and the parties involved may lose their legal rights. This is why it's so important to seek the advice of a religious expert when planning a Muslim wedding. In the event that the wali is not available, the couple should choose a Kadi or Naib Kadi to solemnise their marriage. These are authorised officials who are not paid for their work and who will help to ensure that the marriage is conducted correctly and legally.
The Nikah Ceremony
The Nikah ceremony is one of the most important parts of a Muslim wedding. This is where the couple officially declares their commitment to each other as husband and wife, a marriage that is considered to be legally binding under Islamic law.
Getting married as a Muslim is a very personal matter, and each Muslim couple has to consider their own religious beliefs before planning the wedding. Some couples prefer to keep their ceremony simple and private, while others may choose to incorporate more traditions into the Nikah.
Some couples choose to host their Nikah at a mosque or another venue that reflects the bride and groom’s religious beliefs. Other couples may choose to have the Nikah in their home, where family and friends can attend.
A Nikah is a very special and memorable event in a Muslim’s life, so it’s important that the bride and groom do everything possible to make it a success. While many traditions are specific to the culture of a particular Muslim family, the fundamentals of this ceremony are the same around the world.
Once the couple has chosen their date and location for the Nikah, they can start planning their big day. It’s a great idea to talk with the imam about all the necessary requirements for the event, such as whether or not alcohol can be served and whether there are any other special rules for the event.
The wedding party may also want to consider including a cultural element in the ceremony, such as traditional music or dance. This is a fun way to add a bit of personality to the event, and it can help make your Nikah more special.
Some couples choose to include a Haldi ceremony, which involves turmeric paste infused with sandalwood and rose water being applied to the bride’s face, hands, and feet. This is an important part of the Nikah, and it’s usually done a day or two before the actual wedding.
After the Nikah, the newlyweds may host a wedding feast (walima) to celebrate their new life together and give thanks to Allah. This may take place immediately after the nikah or the next day or week, and it is usually an intimate affair with the bride and groom’s closest family members.
The Marriage Contract
The Muslim marriage contract is an important part of the Islamic wedding experience and can vary in its content. Typical stipulations include equal divorce rights, education, work, financial support, and living conditions. It can also cover a wide range of issues that may be important to the couple such as children, extended family members, and health.
Some couples choose to simply sign a basic Islamic marriage contract and then have a civil marriage ceremony in the United States. Others prefer a more complex, multi-part ceremony that involves a number of steps and requires extensive knowledge of the Islamic religion.
Many couples also opt to include a variety of additional stipulations in the contract. Some of these stipulations are meant to protect the spouses’ interests, while others are designed to ensure that the marriage is legal under American law.
Typically, these stipulations are written and signed in front of two witnesses or a judge. The stipulations are legally binding and may include a mahr (dowry) stipulation from the groom to the bride. The mahr can be immediate, ongoing or deferred and is payable upon demand, death or divorce.
The mahr is a major incentive for men to marry women and an essential part of Islamic culture. It is a source of financial stability and wealth in marriage.
A woman's right to divorce her husband under Islamic jurisprudence is called talaq al-mukrah, which translates to "divorce of one's spouse." This right is unilateral, at will, and without cause.
However, there are some imams who disagree with the validity of talaq. They argue that it is unnecessary in the United States, a country with a strong divorce system, and that the wife is actually forcing her husband to agree to a religious divorce by filing for an American civil divorce.
In addition to these concerns, Islamic scholars have also argued that divorce in the United States is inconsistent with the Qur'an, which describes marriage as an equitable, compassionate, and peaceful relationship. This issue is becoming more important for Islamic couples in the United States.