Muslim Wedding Culture and Traditions

One of the major components of any religion’s culture is marriage. The Muslims take the sacred wedding ceremony very seriously, as it is believed to be one of the core responsibilities of a Muslim. It is the celebration of a new bond between two souls and their families, which would later lead to preserving their religion and culture as their family grows.

Mangni – The ring ceremony

This is also known as the engagement ceremony. Here, the two families publicly declare the union of the bride and groom. Relatives and close friends of both families are invited to witness the ring exchange ritual on a set date, which will signify the official engagement between the bride and the groom.

Heena Mehndi time!

Heena or Mehndi is like a temporary tattoo that usually lasts a month and slowly fades away. There is a belief the bride who gets a dark-colored Heena will be lucky and will get a lot of love from the groom’s family.

Some families prefer hiring professional mehndi artists as their designs are more unique and beautiful. As a game, the groom’s initials are hidden within the henna designs, and he has to find them on their first night together. The bride usually has a special mehndi ceremony dress, which is not too heavy and yet comfortable as Heena takes some time to dry up, and the bride can’t even eat with her hands during this time. The other women also get their hands and feet painted, after which a lot of dancing and singing occurs. It is a great way for them to bond and prepare the bride for her wedding. Of course, during this period, the bride and groom are confined to their respective houses until the big day.

Nikah – The Main Ceremony!

The major wedding ceremony ritual is the Nikah ceremony. It is during the Nikah that the marriage would be solemnized. Depending on the couple and their families, the ceremony can either be a grand affair or an intimate one with just the immediate family members present to bear witness. During the ceremony, the women sit and surround the bride while the men surround the groom. The Iman or Maulvi then reads some verses from the Quran and recites a prayer of blessing for the couple. After this, the Maulvi asks the bride if she consents to the marriage. If she agrees, she replies by saying “Quubool Hai,” which translates to “I do” three times. The same is repeated for the groom.

Walimah – The Grand Celebration!

The Walimah, also known as “Dawat-e-dalimah,” is the second post-wedding ritual of a Muslim wedding. It is a lavish wedding banquet usually hosted by the groom’s family. Immediate and distant relatives, friends, and neighbors are invited to the feast. It is a grand wedding reception organized for the newlyweds to wish them a happy married life. This reception allows the couple to unwind and be introduced to extended family members and friends. The couple is treated like royalty and showered with more gifts and blessings. Walimah is the final public declaration of the marriage, in the presence of loved ones, to the whole community.