Marriage in Islam

Marriage in Islam is a contractual binding, which revolves around the Muslim religion. However, you will also find the cultural diversity in the Islamic marriages as well. The basics of Islamic marriage will remain the same but the marriage ceremonies will vary from region to region. The marriage in Islam is based on Nikkah. Nikkah is Arabic word, which means “to unite”. Marriage in Islam is a legal as well as a social agreement.

Muslims arrange a marriage like a festival and engage the marriage officer who is known as “Qazi” for the services of Nikkah. All the activities of Nikkah are done under the supervision of Qazi.  The Nikkah ceremony is the simple ceremony in which the bride get agree on giving herself in the Nikkah of bridegroom on the agreed Mehar. Mehar is the gift to the bride from the Bridegroom. In Islam, Mehar is considered as the right of the bride. The basic aim of Mehar is to provide the security to the bride in the case of divorce or her husband’s death.  Thus, both the bride and the groom should be agreed on the Mehar. As Marriage in Islam is a legal contract. That is why both the bride and groom signed the contract to become legal husband and wife.

In most of the cultures, the Muslim wedding ceremony last for 5 days that includes the following:

·         One day is to have dinner with girl’s family.

·         Second day is to have dinner with girl’s family.

·         Third day is for the Mehndi event, which take place at the home of bride for her friends. On that day, her friends decorate the bride with Mehndi on her feet and hands. On Mehndi day, the family of bride arranges the feast. Nowadays, you can eat HalwaPuri, Chanay, Halwa, Kabab and Paratha in the Mehndi Ceremonies.

·         Fourth day is the real marriage day and known as Nikkah day. Bride and groom both wear new dresses and show their happiness. On this day, the bride has to leave her parents home. After Nikkah Ceremony, the family of bride gives the responsibility of bride to the groom and his family. This event is known as Rukhsati.

·         Fifth day is the Valima day on which bride and groom have a lunch or dinner with the families and friends of both. The groom hosts this feast.  On this day, both the families get merge up and no one can know who is from the bride’s family and who is from the groom’s family.

In this way, the Islamic marriage ceremony ends but the life of new couple starts. In Islam, marriage and family are considered as the building blocks of the society that is why husband and wife are bound by certain rules. Islam defines the role of both the husband and wife so that a healthy family relation can be developed. No doubt, this is the base of strong Islamic society, which is necessary for the tremendous growth of religion in the society.