Muslim weddings are lavish celebrations steeped in history and tradition. While the specific customs vary across countries, cultures, and Islamic sects, there are certain cultural and religious rituals that remain the same in some way or another. Here we will guide you through everything you need to know about a Muslim wedding.
- Who Officiates a Muslim Wedding Ceremony?
- Where is a Muslim Wedding Ceremony Held?
- How Long is a Muslim Wedding Ceremony?
- Do Men and Women Have to be Seperate at a Muslim Wedding Ceremony?
- What Happens before a Muslim Wedding Ceremony?
- What Happens During a Muslim Wedding Ceremony?
- What Happens After a Muslim Wedding Ceremony?
Who Officiates a Muslim Wedding Ceremony?
In Sunni Islam there is no official clergy, any Muslim who understands Islamic tradition can officiate a wedding. If you are having your wedding in a mosque, there are many marriage officers called qazi, madhun, or imam who can oversee the marriage.
Where is a Muslim Wedding Ceremony Held?
A Muslim wedding ceremony, also known as a Nikah, can take place in virtually any suitable location, such as a home or community hall; however, the mosque is often the preferred and most favoured choice, as it holds special spiritual significance and symbolises the importance of beginning a marriage in a sacred and religiously revered space.
How Long is a Muslim Wedding Ceremony?
A Nikah usually takes 30-40 minutes. However, the wedding celebrations can go all night long!
Do Men and Women Have to be Seperate at a Muslim Wedding Ceremony?
Gender separation is a normal part of many Muslim traditions, including Muslim wedding traditions. Not every Muslim couple will choose to separate the genders at their wedding, but more traditional ceremonies will keep men and women apart. During the reception, men and women may celebrate in different rooms, be divided by a partition or simply sit at different tables.
What Happens before a Muslim Wedding Ceremony?
Toble
The Tolbe is a pre-wedding ceremony where the groom formally asks the bride's parents for her "hand" in marriage. If the families give their blessing, a short prayer from the Holy Quran called “Surah Fatiha” is recited by everyone present. This is followed by a presentation of tea, coffee, or cordial and sweets that both families enjoy together. This is a traditional practice that some Muslims opt not to follow, while many others adapt and modernize it to align with contemporary lifestyles.
Radwa
Radwa is a pre-wedding tradition, typically held a day or two before the wedding, where the groom's male family members visit the bride's family to ensure they are happy with the upcoming celebrations. The bride, dressed in her finest traditional attire, is escorted by her family to the groom's home, where she is warmly welcomed by her future in-laws with open arms and rose petals. She sits on a symbolic throne, representing her status as the princess of the house, and is showered with gifts from her family. The women of the groom's family then prepare henna for her, while the eldest family member offers blessings for a joyful and love-filled future.
What Happens During a Muslim Wedding Ceremony?
Meher
The marriage contract includes a meher—a formal statement specifying the monetary amount the groom will give the bride. There are two parts to the meher: a prompt due before the marriage is consummated and a deferred amount given to the bride throughout her life.
Today, many couples use the ring as the prompt because the groom presents it during the ceremony. The deferred amount can be a small sum—a formality—or an actual gift of money, land, jewelry or even an education. The gift belongs to the bride to use as she pleases, unless the marriage breaks up before consummation. The meher is considered the bride's security and guarantee of freedom within the marriage. It symbolizes love, respect, and courtesy towards the woman.
Katb Al-kitaab
Katb Al-Kitaab or Nikah is the formal marriage ceremony in Islam, where the terms of the marriage are laid out by an imam, and a contract is signed by both parties. During the ceremony, the groom proposes to the bride in the presence of at least two witnesses, stating the agreed details of the meher. Both the bride and groom demonstrate their consent by repeating the word qabul ("I accept" in Arabic) three times. Once this is done, the couple, along with two male witnesses, sign the marriage contract, making the union legal under both civil and religious law.
What are the Vows and Blessings?
The officiant may add an additional religious ceremony following the Nikah, which usually includes a recitation of the Fatihah—the first chapter of the Quran—and durud (blessings). Most Muslim couples do not recite vows; rather, they listen as their officiant speaks about the meaning of marriage and their responsibilities to each other and Allah.
Savaqah
Savaqah is the last part of a Muslim wedding ceremony. As the couple recesses from the ceremony, the bride is showered with coins in celebration.
What Happens After a Muslim Wedding Ceremony?
Zaffe
The zaffe is the newlywed couple's grand entrance to their reception. It typically starts with the bride's father walking his daughter to her groom. It is then followed by a troupe of drummers that play traditional, upbeat Arabic music. During the zaffe, rings are changed from the right hand to the left hand.
Dabke
At the reception, a popular folk dance called dabke is often performed by professional dancers and then the wedding guests. Guests will dance shoulder to shoulder in a circle with each other.
Cake Cutting
The cutting of the cake is a wedding tradition found in most cultures, but here things are kicked up a notch. Muslim couples cut their multi-tiered wedding cake with a large sword passed down to the groom from his family for his wedding day.
Walima
After the wedding contract is signed, it's time for Walima, the wedding feast. This may feature traditional symbols of fertility and plenty such as fish, chicken, rice and candy-covered almonds.
Barmet Al-aroos
This tradition is the final farewell to the newlywed couple before they depart their wedding venue in a flashy and highly decorated vehicle. Friends and family of the couple follow them back to their home or hotel in a parade of their own cars, playing loud music and honking all the way to announce to the world that the couple in front of them just got married
