If you're gearing up for a Muslim wedding celebration, learning how to personalize it is key. Check out this definitive guide to orchestrating an Islamic wedding in NJ for an unforgettable ceremony!
A Muslim marriage ceremony is a beautiful celebration that symbolizes the beginning of a new journey for two souls. We're here to share with you a few Muslim wedding traditions that will take your breath away!
Arranged Marriages
Arranged marriages are a traditional and cultural norm for many Muslims around the world. They are a means of mate selection and a way to ensure that couples have a happy life together.
Arranged relationships are based on mutual compatibility and the idea that two people will grow to love each other over time. This approach has been shown to be more stable and longer-lasting than other types of relationships, such as dating.
A marriage can be arranged through family or friends, but it may also be arranged by a third party such as a marriage agency. In some cases, men may even choose their wife through a mail-order bride service.
In arranged marriages, the groom and the bride usually meet during initial meetings that are arranged by their parents. During these meetings, the parents will ask questions about their potential spouse’s personality, beauty, family, education and finances.
The couple will then have a period of courtship, which can include meeting with each other for several hours or more, often unsupervised. The two families will then work together to find a suitable match and arrange a wedding.
Arranged marriages have been practiced for centuries and can be very successful. They are a great choice for many couples because they tend to last longer and produce happier, more stable families.
However, there are some misconceptions about arranged marriages. One is that they are loveless relationships, meaning that the couple does not grow to love each other before they get married. In reality, arranged marriages are very successful and often involve high levels of love.
Another misconception is that arranged marriages are a form of duress or force. In fact, it is much more common for girls to be pressured into marrying against their will than for boys.
Nikah
Nikah, a religious ceremony in Islam, is one of the most important events for a Muslim. While the ceremony itself can differ in a variety of ways, it is usually a time when family and friends gather to celebrate the couple’s new life together.
In traditional Islam, the Nikah is performed by an Islamic scholar (called a Qazi) at a mosque. However, it can also be performed by a member of the couple’s family.
The groom and bride sign a paper called the Nikah that confirms their agreement to get married. They then sing a song that means they are willing to commit themselves to each other.
Traditionally, the groom is asked to pay a sum of money or other valuables to the bride, but this can be altered depending on what the bride wishes. It is often referred to as the “Mehr” and it’s symbolic of a man’s responsibility for taking care of his wife.
Before the Nikah is performed, the groom must talk to his future wife about what she will receive from him in exchange for her commitment to him. This is called the Mahr, and it can be anything from a lump sum of money to gold or a trip.
Once the Nikah is completed, the bride and groom have to say qubool hai – which means they are married – in front of two witnesses. This is to ensure that the marriage is legitimate.
The Nikah is not legally recognized by the state, but it remains an important symbol of legitimacy for Muslims. It imbues the relationship with a sense of belonging to a group, and it reflects a process of internalization for couples who are not able to find legal protection within cohabitation.
Mehar
The Muslim wedding ceremony begins with the groom asking for the bride’s hand in marriage at a ritual known as the tolbe. This is followed by the reading of a short prayer from the Quran, called a fatiha, and the signing of a marriage contract.
The next part of the Islamic wedding is known as nikah, or the wedding ceremony itself. The couple is then seated and the Iman or Maulvi reads the first chapter of the Quran, which is a prayer for blessings on the newlyweds.
During this ceremony, the groom and the bride make vows to each other and their families. These vows include promises to live together as husband and wife, fidelity, love and respect, and honesty and sincerity.
In addition to these vows, the bride is also expected to give her future husband Mahr, which means “gift.” This gift is a requirement for every Muslim marriage. It is a symbol of a woman’s security deposit, a claim on the groom’s authority, and a token of love and regard that the groom must pay to her.
But the amount of Mehar that a future husband must pay to his wife is a personal decision for both parties, and not one based on what society considers a good enough offer. The groom should make a reasonable offer to his future wife, and the bride should accept it, but this is a conversation that will need to be had between them in order for the nikah to be considered valid.
Many people in Western society have a tendency to ignore the bride’s right over her Mehar, and this is something that should be avoided at all costs. It is not acceptable to have the father or the husband in charge of her Mehar, and it is not permissible for anyone to interfere with her decision on the amount she receives as a gift from her future husband.
Walimah
The walima is the second of the two traditional parts of an Islamic wedding, following the nikah ceremony. It is a feast that is held after the nikah and serves as a symbol of domestic happiness for the couple.
The Walima is generally held a day or two after the nikah, although it can also take place on a later date. Guests come together to celebrate the new couple's union and the start of their life as husband and wife.
Walima celebrations can take many forms, but are usually a fun time for family and friends to gather around. One popular tradition is called the "hiding of the shoes" and involves the groom's family members stealing his footwear and holding them up as ransom for the bride's family.
Some Muslims use their wedding invitations to highlight the walima as well, with verses from the Quran or Hadith included. This is a great way to introduce your guests to the Islamic traditions you'll be observing at your big day, and it can help make them feel more at home in your culture.
There are also a few other things you'll need to keep in mind if you're getting married as a Muslim. For example, you'll need to follow the proper guidelines when it comes to wearing head coverings and other aspects of your attire.
You'll want to visit a tailor before you get married, so that your clothing fits perfectly and is appropriate for the occasion. You'll also need to have your jewelry and shoes polished.
The nikah is an important part of any marriage and both the man and the woman must consent to it before it can take place. This contract becomes legally binding after it's signed by witnesses.
Chauthi
Chauthi is the last post-wedding ritual which is celebrated four days after the wedding. In this ritual, the bride visits her parents home and is showered with gifts and affection by the family members. This also helps the newly wedded couple to bond with their relatives.
The marriage ceremony, called nikah, is a formal Islamic contract wherein the groom and bride agree on all aspects of their marriage according to the Quran. This is done in the presence of two witnesses from each family. The nikah ceremony is followed by a Khutba, or religious discourse, and duruds, or blessings from the elders.
Another important wedding ceremony is henna. It is a female function wherein the bride is adorned with henna which is usually green or yellow in color. The bride is given a lot of henna on her hands, arms and feet. This is an important part of the bridal outfit as it reflects her beauty and is a symbol of her status in the community.
A few days before the henna ceremony, the bride and groom are presented with their respective engagement rings. These are often adorned with gold and diamonds which represent the love and commitment that they have for each other.
During the wedding, the bride and groom are offered a meal. Women and men dine separately but the newly wedded couple sits together for the first time to look at each other through a mirror kept in between them.
After the mushraf, it is customary for the groom to pay "mehr" or gift to the bride. This is a mandatory payment which is generally stipulated in the nikah contract.
The wedding reception, known as Walimah, is a grand affair. It is typically held at a restaurant or a hotel and it is a major public declaration of the wedding to the entire community. It is a celebration of the new life that the newly wedded couple will share with each other and their loved ones.
