Muslim Marriage Ceremonies
Muslim weddings are quite different than those in other religions. Weddings are the most important ceremonies in Islam, across all Muslim cultures. Unlike Christian weddings, Muslim ceremonies aren't restricted to one day. There are specific pre-wedding, wedding day and post-wedding customs.
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Significance
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Muslim weddings are important because they signify the joining of two souls and two families. In most Muslim cultures, living together and extensive courting isn't allowed before marriage, so a couple must go through the wedding ceremony and rituals before beginning their lives together. The ceremony is as much religious as it is social.
Pre-Wedding
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Before the wedding, the groom's mother visits the bride's home with sweets and a silver or gold coin wrapped in silk. The coin is tied to the bride's hand in an elaborate ceremony called the Imam-Zamin. The groom's family then visits the bride's home and they exchange fruits or sweets. Another pre-wedding ceremony is called Manjha. The bride wears a yellow dress and family members put turmeric paste all over her body. This is supposed to make her skin glow. After this is the Mehndi ceremony, which is one of the favorites. A relative or a professional paints elaborate scrolls and patterns on the bride's hands and feet in preparation for the wedding ceremony.
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Wedding
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At the wedding, traditional songs announce the arrival of the groom. The actual wedding ceremony is called Nikaah and takes place at the bride's or groom's home. Only close friends and family witness this ceremony. The couple reads religious scripture and is married by an imam. They then must sign a legal document. The bride's family then hosts a dinner and party for the couple, friends and family. The bride and groom wear cloths over their heads and must use mirrors to look at each other.
Post-Wedding
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The day after the wedding, the bride's family tearfully bids her goodbye and she goes to the groom's home. The groom's mother holds the Koran over the bride's head as she enters their home. The groom's family hosts a lavish party for the new couple and both families that night.
Bride's Attire
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Muslim brides are ornately decorated for their wedding ceremonies. Mehndi is applied to her hands and feet and she wears real gold jewelry---the more the better. Muslim wedding dresses are very different than Christian ones. Muslims never wear white and favor bright jewel tones, like red, turquoise or green.
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References
- Photo Credit muslim woman image by DXfoto.com from Fotolia.com
