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| Home > Wedding customs and rituals > Islam Wedding Rituals > Wedding Ceremony
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| | Islam Wedding Ceremony
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Welcoming the Baraat: The groom arrives at the wedding venue with a wedding procession or baraat consisting of relatives and friends accompanying a band of musicians to announce their arrival. A lot of playful games are played and a welcome drink is served to the groom`s family.
The wedding night:
 It is highly recommended that the wedding should take place at night. When the bride enters the room, the groom is recommended to take off her shoes and wash her feet and then sprinkle the water around the room. Then he should pray Then he should ask the bride to pray. When they are ready to go to bed, the groom should put his hand on the bride`s forehead and pray As far as the Shariah is concerned, it is neither obligatory nor forbidden to have sex on the first night. It is a private decision between the newly wed couple; it has nothing to do with others.
Nikaah: It is on day four the actual Muslim Nikaah or wedding ceremony takes place. Nikah can be conducted at the home of the bride or the groom, or at any other convenient venue. The nikaah ceremony is presided over by the qazi or law officer. The qazi appoints two men as witnesses (Gawah) on the groom`s behalf, to receive orders for the nikah from the bride`s family. In addition to the presence of two witnesses, the presence of the two `Walis` (the bride`s and the bridegroom`s father) is also necessary. The bride`s father is required to care for and protect her rights and the groom`s father to endorse his rights.
On the day of the Nikaah the elder members of the two families decide the amount of Mehar (nuptial gift). Refreshingly, unlike dowry custom in India, in Muslim Nikah, Mehar is a compulsory amount of money given by the groom`s family to the bride. The qazi personally asks the bride if she has agreed to marry the groom and whether she accepts the quantum of mehar. Once the bride gives her consent the qazi reads the marriage contract to the groom. After the groom gives his consent, the Nikaah-Nama or marriage contract must be signed by the bride, the bridegroom, their Walis, the witnesses and the Qazi. The Nikaah-Nama also contains certain terms and conditions, which are in accordance with the religion and agreeable to both parties. A noteworthy condition is that in case of a disagreement between the two partners, the girl has a right to divorce her husband.
After the Nikaah-Nama is signed, the Qazi delivers a sermon called Khutba, consisting of verses from the Quran which were recited by the prophet and which lay particular emphasis on obligations toward women. The Qazi explains the meaning of these verses to the audience with an explanation of the mutual rights and duties of the spouses.
The Nikah Ceremony: According to Shariah, the wife-to-be says, "I have given away myself in Nikah to you, on the agreed Mahr."
Immediately, the bridegroom says, "I have accepted the Nikah."
With these pronouncements, they become husband and wife.
Time of Marriage Ceremony:hough basically marriage is allowed at all times, there are some days on which marriage is not recommended; some of these are based on ahadith and some on cultural, historical reasons.
Permission of the Bride-to-be/Father: The girl`s consent is necessary and has to be taken by her representative, directly.
In case of a virgin/spinster the father`s or the grandfather`s permission is also necessary. However if the permission is unreasonably withheld under some conditions or the girl has no father/paternal grandfather it is not necessary. However, a woman who is not a virgin, does not require any permission in case of remarriage.
Valima (Dinner): Valima is highly recommended on the groom. The relatives, neighbors and friends must be invited for Valima. However, lavish spending is not advisable especially when the same money can be used effectively by the couple.
Blessing the Groom: After the wedding ceremonies are over the groom receives blessings from the older women and offers them his salaam. The guests pray for the marital bliss of the newly wed couple.
Dinner, Prayers and Aarsimashaf: As Muslim community is known for their `mehmaan nawazee` and also for their food, dinner is obviously a very grand occasion in their weddingsUsually, the women and the men dine separately. After dinner, the newly-weds sits together for the first time. Their heads are covered by a dupatta while they read prayers under the direction of the maulvi (priest). The Quran is placed between the couple and they are allowed to see each only through mirrors.
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