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| Muslim
Matrimonial |
India is known to be the
home to the second largest Muslim population
in the world. It is a known fact in history,
that the great majority of Muslims in India
were converts from Hinduism. Due to this,
the Hindus and Muslims in India developed,
and still share, numerous common traits, habits,
and ways of living. Not only is the food,
music, clothes, painting, and architecture
similar but the Indian matrimonial traditions
have also tinted the Muslim matrimonial rituals
to a certain extent.
Muslim matrimonials are typically a five-day
affair. Varieties of ceremonies that are pre
and post - matrimonial are displayed. The
first two days are spent in the bride and
groom's families visiting each other. The
inaugural ceremony of Muslim matrimonial alliance
is the ‘Mehendi’. The Mehendi
is dispatched by the groom’s father
to the bridal house. This pre - matrimonial
ceremony is held at the girl’s house
a couple of days before or on the eve of the
wedding. The female relatives also anoint
the bride-to-be with turmeric paste bringing
on a matrimonial glow to the bride’s
face. A feel of festivity is brought on with
the ladies breaking into songs. After this
the couple is forbidden to leave their respective
house until the actual matrimonial day.
Muslim weddings, throughout the subcontinent,
have developed specific Indian traditions
while maintaining Islamic marriage requirements.
The ‘Nikaah’ is the actual matrimonial
ceremony and takes place on day four. Before
the marriage the bride has the choice of wearing
a salwar kurta or sari. The groom wears a
sherwani or the traditional salwar and kurta.
Common to all Indian matrimonials, the groom
arrives with his ‘Baraat’ (procession)
at the bride’s house on the day of the
wedding. The groom is then offered to take
a glass of sherbet with the girl’s brother.
Meanwhile the sister of the bride shows affection
by teasing the guests in light hearted, good
humour.
This Muslim matrimonial ceremony can be held
at the girl’s house or any other venue
chosen. Prior to the ‘Nikaah’
the, ‘Nikaahnaama’ is read out.
This is like taking prior consent of the bride
and groom, to be joined in the matrimonial.
The ‘Nikaahnaama’ is a matrimonial
document in the form of a contract. Once accepted,
both the parties have to adhere to the terms
and conditions contained within the matrimonial
contract. For the contract to be legal, it
must be signed by the bridegroom, the bride,
the Walis, and the Maulvi.
A Maulvi (priest) then conducts the ceremony
of ‘Nikaah’. The ‘Nikaah’
is a very private matrimonial affair where
only the very close are invited to witness.
The males and females are normally seated
separately. The father’s of the groom
and bride play an important role in this and
are known as ‘Walis’. The priest
reads holy verses from the Quran (Agadh -
e - Nikaah). The Ijab - e - Qubul (proposal
and acceptance) marks the end of the ‘Nikaah’.
The amount of the ‘Mehar’ (nuptial
gift) is decided upon. The groom’s family
in case of any eventuality gives the ‘Mehar’
to the bride. This is a very important and
compulsory tradition of the Muslim. The ‘Nikaah’,
which actually means to unite, is now over.
A ‘Nikaah’ (wedding) can take
place at any time that is suitable and convenient
to both parties. There is nothing like auspicious
timings in Islam.
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