This archive report was first published on 23 December 2019.
Islamic weddings are a significant celebration in many cultures, marked by traditional customs and rituals. On December 23, 2019, an article published by the Standard highlighted the unique aspects of Islamic wedding traditions.
The proposal is the first step in an Islamic wedding, where the groom-to-be, accompanied by relatives and friends, approaches the bride's family to seek her hand in marriage. This is followed by discussions between the two families, during which the girl is called upon by her father to accept or reject the proposal.
Once the proposal is accepted, the dowry arrangements begin. The love birds are allowed to discuss dowry privately, with the girl's parents choosing a token of appreciation for her upbringing. The girl's family then provides the groom's family with a list of gifts for the bride, which may include money or property.
On the engagement day, the groom's family brings gifts for the girl's parents and an engagement ring, although this is not mandatory. A few days before the wedding, the heena party takes place, where women from the bride's friends and relatives come together to dance and celebrate.
The heena party involves the bride being covered with a scarf and women dancing and throwing their hair on her face, a custom meant to cleanse and bless the bride. During the ceremony, heena is applied to the bride's forehead, and she is not allowed to go out until the wedding day.
On the wedding eve, the groom or his representatives take gifts for the bride to her house, which may include personal accessories such as a buibui, make-up kits, and jewelry. The wedding eve party continues until morning, with preparations taking place.
On the nikah, the groom and his men head to the mosque, accompanied by the men representing the bride, to solemnize the union. The mosque is usually close to the bride's house, allowing the Kadhi to reach her and ask if she agrees to the union and the amount of dowry they had agreed upon.
Once the bride agrees, she signs the marriage certificate, and the Kadhi finalizes the ceremony. The groom and his party then head to the bride's residence, where he is the first person to see her. The bride's siblings and aunties may demand cash from the groom before allowing him to enter.
When the groom sees his wife for the first time, he prays for her, and the party begins. Families sit together to share a meal and dance, and after the feast, the husband and wife leave the party venue for their house.
Later that night or on a different night, women from both families and friends gather together in a hall to continue the celebration. The bride comes in slightly earlier than the groom and sits at the podium, while the husband joins in later accompanied by his family and joins the bride at the podium. The couple then gets on the dance floor as the photo session takes place.
