by Janette Peel

Created on: February 15, 2009   Last Updated: February 16, 2009

Marriage is a strong tradition in the Islamic faith; it is the foundation of a healthy, pious and cohesive social structure.

Marriage is an important social and religious function in Islam and if you are fit and economically able it is viewed as your duty to marry. Marriage isn't seen as the joining together of two soul mates but rather as an important social contract that forms the foundation of a healthy religious society.

The ceremony, the nikah, is a simple affair that is usually conducted in a mosque on a Sunday. The nuptials are often officiated over by the Imam, a Muslim religious figure, who leads the prayers in the mosque, but any respected Muslim man can perform the ceremony.

Certain basics of Islamic principle are always adhered to during the wedding rites, but local culture and practices mean that weddings differ greatly across the world in their rituals and structure.

There is no set dress code for an Islamic wedding as it will depend on the location (in most instances a mosque) and the particular tenets of Islam subscribed to. You will need to do some research beforehand to find out if women are required to wear the traditional veil (hjab) or not.

The wedding dress of the bride is largely dictated by the customs of the country. In fact, there is no requirement that the woman be present at the ceremony at all so long as she has two witnesses sent on her behalf. Many brides choose to wear a white gown, while those people from the Asian subcontinent often prefer a shalwar-qameez outfit in scarlet and gold thread, and pattern their feet and hands with henna. The bride and groom will also have a traditional outfit for the wedding banquet.

A traditional Muslim wedding will see a religious service presided over by the Imam and a gift presented to the bride known as the mahr and will end in a big celebration.

During the ceremony the Imam will read a number of verses from the Islamic holy text called the Koran. These will be specifically chosen to remind the couple and the congregation of their duties to each other and to Allah.

A wedding contract is drawn up that shows the husband's and wife's commitments to each other. One of the couple must express ijab', willingness to consent to marriage, and the other qubul', acceptance of the responsibility; it is this demonstration of the couple's union that is important. Once the couple and two male witnesses have signed the contract, it is proclaimed to the congregation that they are married. The Imam will conclude the

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