Significance of Nikah Ceremony and Their Essential Elements

What is Nikah?

Nikah is an Islamic religious ritual that brings a Muslim man and woman together into the contract of marriage. This event holds a unique place of honour in the hearts of Islamic families. Also, this religious ceremony is a must for a Muslim couple to officially marry under Islamic law. As per the Islamic tradition, it’s not allowable for a couple to be intimate without a Nikah. This ceremony legitimizes the relationship in front of Allah and it’s when the couple says, “I accept.” The services of nikah matrimony help single or divorced or widowed Muslims to find their Islamic soul mate. The event of Nikah Matrimony marks the beginning of a new life with your life partner.

A Muslim wedding usually has some common religious traditions that most generations follow for ages. The traditions followed might differ greatly depending on the region, family, and culture. But the fundamentals of the Nikah and getting married as a Muslim are always the same. Nikah is a true example of simple marriage ceremonies to ensure that couples and their families are not overburdened.

When it comes to an Islamic wedding, Nikah ceremony is mandatory for the bride and groom to legalize their wedding. Let’s discuss the nikah ceremony in detail and why it is a must during an Islamic wedding.

What are the basic requirements of an ideal Nikah ceremony?

Proposal

Just like any other marriage, someone has to propose the Nikah process to start. A man or a woman or their family can propose as long as the intention is for marriage. Usually, in most cultures, it is typical for a man to propose but in Islam, a woman can also propose.

Acceptance

Acceptance of the proposal is very important for the nikah. The Qubool is called the acceptance of the proposal but you don’t have to accept it right away. During this period, the couple meet each other and ask questions to develop understanding and check compatibility. They can meet many times as long as the meeting takes place in public or the presence of mahram. The communication of acceptance is done verbally or in writing to start the further process.

Wali

The Wali is known as the father of the nikah brides who “give away” his daughter. The existence of a wali is one of the prerequisites for an Islamic marriage to be legal. It is not at all acceptable for nikah brides to give herself in marriage without a wali. If she marries without a wali, her marriage is null and void as per Islamic law. If the bride’s father is deceased or cannot attend the wedding then the bride's male guardian acts as a wali. This role can be taken by her brother, grandfather, or uncle from her paternal side of the family.

Written marriage contract

A marriage contract is considered a vital part of Islamic marriage. It outlines the legal responsibilities and rights of each spouse as per the Quran. The maulvi recites these responsibilities to them during the ceremony. The bride and groom must officially sign the marriage contract, during Nikah to make it legal. After signing the contract or nikah nama it is against the law for the couple to divorce.

Witness

A minimum of two male witnesses must be present at the moment of the nikah. This can attest to the fact that both the bride and groom say “Qubool Hai” of their own free will. It is important to witness that the nikah takes place without any force from family members or anyone else. Islamic marriage is not acceptable without any witnesses of the age of puberty. Also, it is important to make a public announcement after the nikah.

Mahr

Allah has mandated Mahr as an obligatory gift from the nikah groom to the bride. Usually, it is a lump sum amount of money or a trip, gold or anything else that the bride decides. It is upto to the bride what she wants to do with the amount received in the form of Mahr. No one holds any right to remove any portion of it from that Mahr except the bride. Of course, they are taught to be fair and keep their future husband’s income in mind. The Mahr also symbolizes the responsibility of the man for providing for and taking care of his wife.

Place of ceremony

In an Islamic wedding, the ceremony of nikah will be held in the mosque or the couple’s homes. In some cases, the bride and the groom sit in separate rooms. The groom will get to see the bride only after the completion of the Nikah ceremony.

All guests are required to take off their footwear before entering the mosque if the wedding takes place here. Commonly, all men and women sit separately during the whole ceremony. Traditionally, the imam of the mosque or maulvi or Qazi officiates the nikah.

Nowadays, it’s common to arrange Nikah either at a venue or at home. The segregation in case often depends on the couple’s culture or level of religiosity in the family. Also, now people tend to organize this event with a blend of some Islamic and western traditions.

Wedding dress for the Muslim bride

The wedding dress of Muslims combines subtlety with glamour, gorgeousness with grace, and tradition with style. These dresses are usually long and have a veil that covers the head of the bride as per their culture. This essential part of the attire can be a colour-coordinated scarf similar to hijab to mark the respect of elders. They prefer to choose bright and vibrant colours like red, and green with golden work to match the ceremony’s significance. There are plenty of bridal dresses ranging from salwar kameez, sharara, skirts, to sarees. All these dresses are beautifully paired with exclusive golden jewellery including necklaces, bangles, rings, earrings, waist belts, and passa.

The attire of a Muslim groom

Just like a bride, a Muslim groom’s wedding dress is remarkable. He also equally needs to look handsome, stylish, and elegant. Usually, Grooms choose to wear a traditional sherwani or a heavily embroidered kurta with churidar pyjamas. They pair their outfits with matching traditional shoes along with some accessories such as rings, chains, and bracelets. They can choose more western or indo-western outfits to add a modern look. Grooms are also required to wear a veil of roses during the wedding ceremony as per customs.

Some people feel that the wedding is mostly the bride’s affair; hence, the entire focus usually centres around the bride. This notion is entirely biased as grooms of today also have a choice to look dapper on this auspicious day. This day is equally significant and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for both of them. It is perfect to match the attire of the Muslim groom with that of the bride. This ensures that the couple looks fabulous during the photo sessions that will remain as memories forever.

Final Thoughts

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