by Amreen Bi

Created on: July 07, 2009   Last Updated: July 14, 2009

Islam is a global religion and the followers of the religion can come from various countries and having their own traditional cultures. Despite these minor differences the basics of the wedding are all in accordance to Islamic law. Here is an overview of an Islamic wedding ceremony.

Once the bride and groom have accepted the offer of marriage the parents of both will meet and discuss the preparations for the wedding. According to Islamic law it is a must that both the man and woman must agree to the marriage without any compulsion.

The groom will give his bride-to-be a gift known as the Mehar. The Mehar as a gift can be pretty much anything such as property, jewellery or money. It doesn't always have to be something materialistic even reading a few verses of the Qur'an can be enough.

The giving of the Mehar is a sign of the groom's commitment and responsibility and the amount given is can be given during the time of the wedding or even later on. It belongs to the wife and she can do what she pleases with it.

Although the bride and groom are allowed to see each other when the wedding is not yet conducted once the marriage alliance is fixed they do not see each other. On the wedding day the bride and groom are separated. Guests too are separated, the men are on the groom's side and the women are on the bride's side. Young children can go to either.

For a man and woman to be married according to Islamic law (Sharia) the Nikah needs to performed. Both the man and woman are asked by an Imam (religious leader) whether they are being married of their own free will and repeat a few verses of the Qur'an. Any Muslim who has the knowledge to perform the Nikah is fine. It does not have to be done by the Imam but the person who does so needs to be a respected Muslim.

The Nikah is a very quick ceremony. It can take place in the homes of the bride and groom or at a wedding hall. There are also witnesses who are present when the bride and groom agree to the Nikah. Many times the Nikah is the day when the Mehar is decided. The bride is also asked if she accepts the amount of Mehar given.

A Nikah-nama includes any conditions which are in agreement with what Islamic Sharia allows too. These are read out to the person and they can say whether they agree/disagree with them.

Sweets are often handed out to all of the people present as well as the bride and groom. The bride and groom are reminded of their duties and responsibilities to each other. The elder generation give their blessings and well-wishes to the couple.

Muslim weddings can be extremely simple and is a chance to bring the whole Muslim community together to wish the newlyweds the best for their future. The Nikah is a fundamental part of an Islamic wedding.

There are many other traditions and customs that vary and are allowed in Islamic law. For example many South Asian Muslim weddings have a wide range of pre-wedding traditions and post-wedding traditions too.

Muslims view marriage as an important part of life and if one is economically able to do so then they should marry. Marriage is more then bringing two people together it forms the basis or foundation of a Muslim community.

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