Different Muslim communities have their own take and it also varies depending on the regional tastes eg. a Keralite Muslim wedding would be very different from a Kashmiri Muslim. Still, they generally they follow the rules stated in the Quran.

Muslim weddings consist of three functions: Pre-wedding, wedding and post wedding rituals.

Pre-Wedding Rituals

  1. The celebration starts with Istikhara, where the religious head takes Allah’s consent to perform the wedding ceremony.

  2. Then is the Magni, where the families visit each other’s houses with sweets and fruits. First the groom’s family and then the brides. This is   similar to the ‘shagun’ or ‘sagai’ too. 

  3. Next is the Manjhi Ceremony, where the bride wears a yellow outfit and Haldi (turmeric) is applied on her hands and legs.

  4. Then comes the Mehendi ceremony which happens before the wedding. During this, the hands and feet of the bride are adorned with henna designs. And Muslim brides have these gorgeous arabic designs that are distinct and so elegant!! LOVE. 

Wedding Rituals

On the wedding day, the Baraat leaves for the bride’s house. They are given a hearty welcome by brides family and the groom enjoys a glass of sherbet with his brother-in-law.

After this, the Nikah is commenced. There, two religious heads from each side are present to take the ceremony forward and perform the rituals.

Meher

The amount of Mehar, a compulsory amount of money to be given to the bride by the groom’s family is also decided. After this, the Maulavi (priest) asks the bride for her consent three times, whether she accepts this wedding or not. Then the same thing is asked from the groom with the decided amount of Mehar.

After the consent of both, the Nikah-nama is signed by the couple declaring them legally married under the Muslim Law.

Post Wedding Rituals

Rukhsat

Here the bride bids farewell to her family and the father of the bride gives her hand to the groom asking to protect her always. She exits the wedding venue with the Quran being held over her head often. 

Valimah

This is a reception organized by the groom’s  family post the wedding where friends and family are invited to celebrate the bond among two families.

Chauthi

Four days after the wedding, the bride goes to her parents’ house for the first time after the marriage. There she is treated with a grand welcome and her husband comes to pick her up.