Within Muslim societies, a marriage ceremony is a significant event that unites families. Additionally, it enables a Muslim to fulfill his fundamental responsibility of maintaining and expanding Islam through his descendants and future lineage.
The first pre-wedding ritual is the Salatul Ishtikara, which is done by the Imam or religious head of a mosque. He performs a prayer to seek Allah’s blessings and consent for the marriage.
Salatul Ishtikara
The first pre-wedding ritual for a Muslim wedding is Salatul Ishtikara, which involves the couple sitting next to each other, with their heads covered. A mirror and the Holy Quran are placed between them. They then look into the mirror and try to see each other in their reflections.
This is done in the groom's house, as a symbolic gesture of acceptance into the bride's new family. The family members shower the bride with gifts and sweets. They also give her a gold or silver coin, which they tie around her wrist.
During the second pre-wedding ritual, called Imam Zamin, the groom's mother and his family visit the bride's house to officially welcome her into their family. They shower her with gifts, sweets and a golden or silver coin that they carefully tie around her wrist.
Another pre-wedding ritual that a bride and her family undergoes is Manjha, which involves a turmeric (Haldi) paste being applied on the bride's face, hands and feet. Turmeric is a highly valued spice that is said to purify and heal the skin.
This is a great way for the groom's family to show their love and support for the bride and help her start her new life together. In addition, the ceremony is a wonderful way to relax and unwind before the main Nikah. It is a fun and exciting part of the wedding process!
Arsi Mushraf
Arsi Mushraf is an apt name for this glitzy gambit which is one of the most popular wedding rituals in the Islamic lexicon. A small smorgasbord of food and beverages is served to guests, and the newlyweds get to bask in the glow of their newfound marital status. The most impressive feat is that the two of them are still together a full hour after the ceremony. You can't get a better reunion than this. The aforementioned smorgasbord will probably be accompanied by the obligatory kebab. Its namesake can be attributed to the fact that it is the most calorie-laden of the foodstuffs.
Rukhsat
Rukhsat is the first post-wedding ritual that a bride has to undergo. It is the time where she bids her family goodbye and leaves with her groom to their new home. It is an emotional moment and would leave a lot of eyes leaking out.
The ceremony starts by a religious head saying the prayer of Quran. After that, he asks the Muslim bride if she is ready to accept the groom as her husband. She must say “Qubool Hai” thrice to give her consent. This is done behind a hijab that separates the couple from each other.
This is the most important part of the wedding. It is also called the Nikah, where the bride and the groom recite their vows and promise to love each other. This is the most sacred part of the marriage and must be performed by a trusted wedding minister.
After the Nikah, the couple enters the reception hall where they are given a meal and are served drinks. They are then seated in front of a mirror and the Holy Quran. This is the first time that they see each other since they were covered up during the rest of the wedding rituals.
This ceremony aims to unite the families of the bride and groom. It also helps the new bride and groom to connect with each other before their wedding day. It is one of the most important parts of a Muslim wedding.
Imam Zamin
In South Asian Shia weddings, the groom’s mother visits the bride before the ceremony and presents her with sweets. In addition, she ties an Imam Zamin (a gold coin wrapped in silk) around her future daughter-in-law’s wrist. This is a symbolic offering, welcoming the bride into her future family.
Traditionally, this ritual was done using a minted coin that has Imam al-Ridha’s name on it. It was said that the coin would protect travelers from danger and give them luck on their journeys.
Another similar custom is the Christian practice of pinning Saint Christopher tokens on their clothes or storing them in their wallets for safety when traveling. Both practices are designed to bring people with Christ and safety with Allah.
In the South Asian Sunni Muslim community, this practice is viewed as more of a cultural tradition than it is a religious one. Rather than placing emphasis on the religious and historical significance of the coin, the Sunni Muslim community sees it as a form of voluntary charity.
Like many other cultural traditions, these practices are often taught outside of the place that they originated from. This can lead to a tendency of change or the practice being passed on to younger generations with little knowledge of its historical origins.
Mehendi
A pre-wedding tradition that has been in existence since time immemorial, Mehendi is a popular practice in many countries of the Indian subcontinent as well as many Arabic nations. It is considered to be a form of adornment and an essential part of a wedding ceremony.
The Mehendi ceremony is generally observed the day before the actual wedding. It is a women-centric ritual and usually involves the bride wearing a light yellow or green colored Lehenga or Salwar Kameez with short sleeves.
Mehendi is a colorful paste made of henna that is applied on the hands and feet of women to add beauty and elegance to their appearance. The designs etched onto the hands and feet symbolize various blessings, luck, joy, and love.
Henna is an herb that contains therapeutic values and can boost the immune system of a person. It is considered a natural anti-inflammatory and can prevent headaches, anxiety, and fever. It also keeps microorganisms away from the body, reducing the risk of infections.
According to traditional beliefs, the darker the color of Mehendi on a bride’s hand is related to her husband’s emotions towards her. It is believed that the dark color of a henna design shows that the groom will love his wife forever.
A few days before the wedding, a mehndi party is held by the bride’s family to prepare her for the big day. It is a fun, festive occasion with guests wearing bright colors and jewelry to show which side of the family they represent.
Heena
Heena, also known as mehndi, is an islamic wedding painting used for adorning the hands and feet of brides. It’s said to bring good luck before the wedding day. It’s also thought to contain barakat, an unseen flow of positive energy that will bring blessings and protect the bride from evil spirits.
Henna has been a popular part of many bridal traditions for centuries. In Armenia, for example, henna on the palms of the bride-to-be is a symbol of fertility and happiness in marriage. The color of the henna is also thought to be a sign of the bride’s love for her mother-in-law.
In Sudan, henna dyes are regarded as a sacred gift. They’re also said to ward off evil spirits and provide relief from headaches, stomach pains, burns, open wounds, and fevers.
The henna is painted on the hands and feet of the bride-to-be in the days before her wedding. It’s a tradition that is still widely practiced in the Middle East and Africa today.
The henna ceremony is usually organized by the bride’s family and is called a henna night or shondha, meaning the evening of mehndi. Guests attend the mehndi night, which is separate from the actual wedding ceremony. The two events are considered prestigious and the women who are chosen to perform the two tasks are seen as highly renowned and respected.
