Numerous traditions and rituals are associated with the organization of a Muslim wedding ceremony. The family and friends of the groom also take part in these festivities. Attendees are gifted with food and additional presents. Subsequently, the bride and groom arrange a lavish dinner for all their relatives, friends, neighbors, and known associates.
Arsi Mushraf
The Muslim wedding rasam begins with the traditional wedding ritual known as the Arsi Mushraf. This ritual places a mirror between the bride and groom and a copy of the Holy Quran in the middle. The couple is then required to read the prayer together under the direction of the Maulvi.
This ceremony ends with Rukhsat, the first post-wedding ritual, which gives the bride a chance to say goodbye to her family and friends. After this, the bride and groom head for the groom's home and the groom's family. The groom's mother-in-law welcomes the bride by placing a Holy Quran on her head as a symbol of her duties as a wife.
After the wedding, the bride and groom sign a contract called the Nikbahnama, which outlines the couple's responsibilities and rights. This contract must be signed in the presence of two witnesses. Following this, the Maulvi recites a Quranic verse as a wedding vow. The newlyweds are then given a mirror that they use to reflect themselves. The mirror ceremony is known as the arsi mushraf.
The bride and groom will then have their hands and feet immaculate with paste made of turmeric, rose water, and sandalwood. A few family members will then take turns applying the paste to the bride. The bride is not allowed to leave the house until the day of the wedding. The groom, however, will also receive a similar ceremony at his home.
Nikkah
The Nikkah ceremony is an essential part of a Muslim wedding. This ceremony is a social contract between the newlyweds. It is typically a small, intimate ceremony, where the groom and bride are surrounded by family and friends. It is usually held in a mosque, and the Imam recites the Quranic verse Surah Fatiha and prays for the couple's bond.
The Nikah ceremony also involves a number of male witnesses. One of these witnesses should be the bride's father, and the other should be a male guardian. The witnesses must vouch for the bride and groom and attest to the fact that they are free and agree to be married.
The groom's family members also visit the bride's home to bestow her with gifts. These gifts may include a bridal outfit. Other gifts may include matching jewelry and toiletries. For the bride, this ritual marks the start of her new life as a wife.
The guests for the Nikah ceremony are often chosen by the couple and their families. They are required to wear modest clothing and avoid showing too much skin. Women may even be required to wear a headscarf. Some families choose to serve their guests with sweets after the ceremony, while others choose to have a sit-down dinner.
In addition to the bride's family members, men and women sit around the bride and groom. The bride's father serves as her Wali. The groom's family members offer Mehr in order to seek her consent. The Maulavi then performs the Nikah ceremony with the couple and their families.
Rukhsat
Rukhsat for a Muslim wedding ceremony is a ritual where the bride's family and friends welcome the newlywed couple and say their goodbyes. It is a bittersweet moment for the bride, as it signals the end of her childhood and the departure of her parents, and the start of a new life with her husband.
The marriage contract is signed before two witnesses. The ceremony includes the Khutba (religious discourse), where the Maulvi reads the Holy Quran verses equivalent to the marriage vows. The bride and groom need not repeat the vows, but their relatives shower blessings on them and the couple.
The bride and groom are also given gifts from their families. Several days before the wedding, the bride's family and future-in-laws visit her family. She is also given ornaments and clothes from the groom's family. The groom's family members also present her with jewelry, cosmetics, and accessories to complete her wedding outfit.
The ceremony begins with a prayer in which the Maulvi reads the holy Quran to the bride and groom. The bride's father is the 'Wali' and the groom's father is called the 'Maulvi'. The Maulvi then asks the bride and groom if they are ready to marry. When both agree, the bride and groom sign the marriage contract. The bride and groom then receive their dowries (Mehr).
After the bride and groom exchange their engagement rings, the family welcomes them with a lavish dholki event. These events usually begin after seven in the evening and continue until late in the night. Older females enrich the atmosphere with the beat of the dholak, while young people sing and dance to celebrate the union.
Ijab-e-Qubool
The Muslim wedding rasam is an important religious ceremony for the new couple. It is a celebration in which the bride and groom are united in marriage and are blessed with a sacred Quran. This event is followed by a feast. A prayer ceremony is also conducted in which the bride and groom sit together with a long scarf covering their heads. The priest reads out a prayer to the newlyweds. The bride and groom exchange gifts, and the groom's family will often buy a lavish gift for the bride.
After the bride and groom are married, the groom's family and friends will travel to the bride's family home. There, they exchange sharbets and ittar. The groom will be welcomed to the bride's family by the bride's brother. After he accepts her hand, her sisters will greet him with sticks covered in flowers.
The Muslim wedding rasam is similar to the haldi ceremony in that the bride is covered in mehndi/henna. The bride's family will also anoint her with turmeric paste. This is believed to give the bride a natural glow. In addition, a married friend is expected to stay with the bride until the wedding.
The bride's family will also ask the groom to ask her family for her consent. After this, the groom's family will offer Mehr to the bride. This ritual is called Ijab-e-Qubool and is a religious ritual. The bride and groom will then stand in front of a mirror.
Manjha
The Manjha ceremony in a Muslim wedding is quite similar to the Hindu Haldi ceremony. The bride is clothed in yellow and is ornamented with flower jewelry. Her family and close friends apply a paste made of rosewater, sandalwood, and turmeric on her hands and feet. Then they wash her with milk and water to remove the paste. A similar ceremony is performed at the house of the groom.
The bride and groom are surrounded by the women and men. The bride's father serves as the Wali. The groom's family offers a Mehr to obtain the bride's consent. The Maulvi then recites a prayer asking Allah to bless the newlywed couple. The couple will then sign a contract stating that they are now legally wed.
The bride's family and groom's families also prepare her for the wedding by visiting her 2-3 days prior to the event. They send her ornaments, clothes, and jewelry. The groom's family also provides her with jewelry and cosmetics. The wedding ceremony is often accompanied by other festivities that involve the bride and groom's family.
The Mehendi ceremony takes place the evening before the wedding. It is a pre-wedding ritual, but unlike the wedding ceremonies in North India, this ceremony is more women-centric. The women who perform the Mehendi ceremony usually apply designs on the bride's hands and feet. During the ceremony, she wears only modest clothes. She cannot go out for a few days until the wedding.
Valima
A Muslim wedding rasam involves the public celebration of the accepted marriage between the groom and bride. The ceremony begins with the Maulvi performing the primary wedding ritual. Men and women gather around the bride and groom. The bride's father, called the Wali, is also present. The groom's family offers Mehr as a sign of consent, and the Maulvi recites prayers from the Quran.
The bride is also surrounded by her family, including her parents and her mother-in-law. She is also escorted by two religious leaders. The Muslim bride wears a veil to hide her face. The wedding party usually consists of a lavish spread, gifts, and a reception party for the bride and groom.
A Muslim wedding rasam also includes a dholki ceremony, which commemorates the bride's union with her husband. This is a bittersweet moment for the bride because it marks the end of her childhood and her parents, and the beginning of a new life together.
The Quran recommends that the couple invite their close family members, friends, neighbors, associates, and pious scholars. However, the Quran warns against inviting people from a higher class or considered rich.
