How to Honor Islamic Wedding Traditions
The traditional Islamic wedding is very simple. Like all weddings, its primary purpose is to join a man and woman in a new life together. The honoring of the Islamic faith during the ceremony is central to this new union. The associated traditions vary according to where the Islamic wedding takes place.
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Instructions
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Obtain a marriage contract. In Islam, marriage is considered a social contract rather than a sacrament, and the legal aspect of the union is stressed.
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Present the "Mahr" at the time of the vows. This is the gift the groom gives to his bride. It does not have to be of great value, but it should be handmade, as is traditional in Islam.
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Concentrate on the "nikah," which are the simple vows of the marriage contract. To honor Islamic traditions, no other activities should distract from this central moment.
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Listen to sermon delivered by the imam during the vows. Usually, this sermon is addressed to the bride and groom and concerns their responsibilities toward one another. It also serves as a reminder to those who are already married.
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Receive friends and family following the wedding in a reception called the "Walima." This gathering is given by the husband, who welcomes his guests and expresses his happiness on the occasion.
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Honor the traditions of Islam by keeping the genders separate if there is to be singing, dancing and general social interaction.
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Invite the poor to the wedding dinner. This is the Islamic tradition of showing honor to the noble poor who are held in high regard. This custom shows respect for the needs of others, rather than ignoring them and attending only the wealthy.
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Serve the traditional fare of chicken, fish and rice. Also offer candied almonds, as these are reputed aphrodisiacs and are time-honored traditions at Islamic weddings.
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Tips & Warnings
Use the groom's or bride's home for the wedding, as most Islamic couples do not marry in mosques.
Invest in a beautiful pen for the signing of the wedding contract, as this can be made a keepsake.
While the bride and groom can choose their own wedding clothes, they do have to keep them modest in accordance with the Islamic faith. Brides may custom order wedding abaya through online retailers like Islamic Boutique and Al Sundus (see Resources below).
