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.
