by Janette Peel

Created on: July 11, 2009

The Islamic faith encourages Muslims, when they reach adulthood to marry, for marriage is believed to be a state designated by God.

Marriage is seen as a positive force for stability, not necessarily about the joining together of two soul mates, but rather the joining of two families, strengthening the foundations of their religious society and helping to bind the Muslim community together.

The marriage ceremony itself, the nikah, is usually a simple affair only taking about five minutes, and may be conducted at the groom's or bride's house or at the mosque. Any Muslim who understands the traditions of Islam may perform the marriage ceremony, but usually the local Imam, a Muslim religious leader, is asked to preside over it.

Owing to local culture and practices, details of the wedding ceremony and celebration may vary across the world, but basic Islamic principles are adhered to during the wedding rites.

Depending on the location and the particular tenets of Islam subscribed to will determine whether there are specific dress codes to adhere to, such as women wearing the traditional veil (hjab) or not.

The bridal dress is largely dictated by the customs of the country. In fact, the woman does not even need to be present at the ceremony as long as she has at least two witnesses attending on her behalf. Many brides choose to wear a white gown, while others opt for a shalwar-qameez outfit in scarlet and gold thread, and pattern their feet and hands with henna. Usually the bride and groom will dress in a traditional outfit for the wedding banquet.

During the ceremony the Imam will read various verses from the Qur'an. These verses are specially chosen to remind the couple and the congregation of their duties to each other and to Allah.

A marriage contract is drawn up stating the husband's and wife's commitments to each other. One of the couple must express their willingness to consent to the marriage, and the other expresses their acceptance of the responsibility. It is this demonstration of the couple's union that is important as it proves that each party agrees to marry of their own free will.

After a proposal of marriage has been accepted, the giving of the mahr, being a gift or dowry, is given by the groom to his new bride. It is a traditional symbol signifying the new husband's economic commitment and responsibility toward his new wife.

The amount or nature of the mahr usually depends upon the groom's economic conditions

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