Muslim Weddings
A wedding is always a happy time for families to celebrate. In the Muslim world, wedding traditions maintain some similarities based on faith. However, there are also colorful, cultural variations from place to place. The various wedding traditions reflect the diversity of the Muslim world.
Muslim weddings vary enormously according to the culture of the people involved.Many people in the UK, for example, confuse the celebrations at a Pakistani or Bangladeshi wedding with an Islamic wedding, and assume they are the same thing. This is not so, of course, for many of the Muslims who marry are from widely different cultures - for example European, Turkish, African, Malaysian, and so on.
The celebration of marriage contract is called nikaah. It is according to Muslim law, simply a civil contract, and its validity does not depend upon any religious ceremony. Though the civil contract is not positively prescribed to be reduced to writing, its validity depends upon the consent of the parties, which is called ijab and qabul. Declaration and acceptance in the presence of two male witnesses and a dower of no less than ten dirhams, to be settled upon the bride. The omission of the settlement does not, however, invalidate the marriage.
A Muslim wedding is a simple and dignified occasion. It enjoins a man and a woman entitling them husband and wife, a new couple, who are about to embark on a journey of a lifetime together.Though Prophet Muhammad taught his followers to keep weddings simple, the infringements of cultures upon Islamic teachings have led weddings to become extravagant events, gaudy and sometimes extremely pompous.
Most weddings in Islamic and Arab cultures could become very expensive affairs. Hundreds and sometimes thousands of guests are not unheard of. Large spaces or hotels are rented to accommodate such a large gathering of guests. The bride is also decorated with very expensive jewelry. 22K gold is quite common that includes bracelets, ear rings, and jewelry for the head (worn over the wedding shawl).
A Muslim marriage is not a religious rite, but simply a legal agreement. Divorce is not common among Muslims, although it is not forbidden as a last resort. Before divorce is considered the couple are expected to attempt to reconcile their differences in the first instance between themselves.
It is important, therefore, that persons getting married should do their utmost to make the partner happy and satisfied in every respect. Truly practising Muslims will keep the rules, and may only have one sexual partner in the whole of their lives. In some Muslim communities divorce is common and frequent, but in others it is strongly disapproved of and divorced women would find it difficult to find a later partner.
After accepting her offer of marriage, the groom must give the bride a Mahar (gift). Usually in the form of money or gold, it is intended as a dowry for her to use as she wishes. The engagement period lasts three months, and if the couple aren’t married by the end of this period, the engagement contract needs to be renewed. During this time, the bride can only be in the same room as her intended if her father or brother is present and she is covered.