Muslim Weddings

Under Muslim beliefs, marriage is a contract, and not a sacrament, and so any Muslim male may perform the ceremony. It is therefore necessary to make sure that all the civil requirements for marriage are carried out. This will involve either a civil ceremony prior to the Muslim service, or, if the mosque is registered to hold wedding ceremonies, arranging for a registrar to attend to register the marriage.

A day or two before the wedding, the Manjha ceremony takes place at the bride's house. She is anointed with turmeric paste, sandalwood and chameli oil, applied only by unmarried women, and henna is put onto on her hands and feet. The bride does not leave her house after this ceremony until the wedding.

On her wedding day, the bride is provided her clothing by the groom's family - in the west, many brides prefer a traditional white dress, wheres brides from the Asian sub-continent often favour a scarlet outfit with gold thread, and many jewels. Female guests should have their legs and head covered, although their faces and hands may be visible. Women are seated on one side of the mosque, with the men on the other.

The service begins with a sermon, followed by readings from the Koran. The bride and groom give their consent to marry, and are pronounced man and wife. There are further prayers and a sermon before guests move to a reception hosted by the bride's parents at their home.

A week later the groom's parents host another reception, at which the groom's relations and friends bring gifts. If this is not practical, the bride's family could host a party for a couple of hours, before moving straight onto the groom's family home to end the celebrations.

In Islam, it is considered both a religious duty and a social necessity to get married.

Click here to read more from InterWedding.co.uk