Muslim couples plan weddings which reflect their unique cultural backgrounds. Here are some traditions that might be incorporated into an Islamic wedding celebration.
Muslim marriages throughout North America often reflect the diversity of the Muslim population. In the United States, only about 19 percent of Muslims are African American or Anglo American. The rest are immigrants or people with family ties to the Arab world, South Asia, Iran, sub-Saharan Africa, Turkey, and other regions in the world.
Although some aspects of an Islamic wedding are fairly consistent among Muslims – specifying a gift to the bride (mahr), signing a marriage contract (nikkah), and hosting separate receptions for women and men are a few examples – each culture brings unique traditions to an Islamic wedding celebration.
Decorating the bride’s hands and feet with henna is one such tradition. Here’s a look at some other Muslim wedding customs from around the world.
Indonesia
Indonesians might have engagements that last for several years or longer. During this time it is tradition for the bride and groom's families to exchange gifts as they get to know each other. When the wedding finally occurs, the reception could include a thousand or more guests.
Arabian and Sahara Deserts
Bedouin marriages tend to be festive and colorful, and in some regions the celebration could last a full week. Brides proudly display their trousseaus of clothes, jewelry and gifts, and men gather to perform the traditional Al Ardha, or war dance.
Turkey
Turkish wedding customs include a procession where wedding guests, accompanied by drums and pipes, "fetch" the bride from her parents' home and escort her to the groom's house. There, her mother-in-law greets her with a gift and the groom leads her inside.
Libya
A traditional Libyan wedding lasts five days. On the last day a sabahiyya, or "morning after" party, celebrates the consummation of the marriage. The husband's relatives take turns "sweetening" family ties by offering the bride tastes from a spoonful of sugar.
Sudan
During the sungkem ceremony in a Sudanese wedding, the bride and groom bend forward to kiss the knees of their parents, promising to continue to serve them and asking for their forgiveness and blessings from them.
Morocco
Moroccan brides change dresses and matching jewelry several times during their wedding celebration. Sometime during the reception, the groom makes his way in a noisy procession to collect his bride. Once there, he is hoisted onto the shoulders of his friends or onto a horse; his bride is carried on a table or cushion. The procession continues until the couple reaches the nuptial chamber.
Malaysia
In Malaysia, costumed children form a festive procession to hand-deliver gifts from the groom to the bride. Wedding guests might receive beautifully decorated hard-boiled eggs, representing fertility.
Middle East
In Middle Eastern tradition, wedding guests often receive five almond pieces, which symbolize the wedding wishes of health, happiness, wealth, fertility and longevity.
Persia
Iranian marriage ceremonies take place aside the sofreh aghd, a beautiful fabric which is spread with symbolic items representing prosperity, fertility and more.
The copyright of the article Islamic Wedding Traditions in Islamic Practices is owned by Christine Benlafquih. Permission to republish Islamic Wedding Traditions in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
i was told that decorating the
henna on hands and body is similar to the hindu custom, thus haraam in
islam.
i think it is too rigid of a view. henna is beautiful and
the prophet (peace be upon him) himself used it. what matters most is our
intention right? we want to decorate ourselves to be beautiful for our
husbands.
so, please clarify. is it permissible in islam to wear
henna on hands and legs? as decoration? thank you sister. barakAllahu feek.
Apr 23, 2009 12:38 PM
Guest :
Hello.
There are two this I would like to mention.
First, what you mentioned about Sudanese wedding is not quite true; I
guess it is done by a certain tribe that does not represent the countries
general culture.
Second, Henna is not Haram, all Muslim ladies
apply it, I have seen it in the hands of Saudi, Sudanese, Egyptian,
Pakistani and Malaysian ladies
Jul 11, 2009 5:16 PM
Guest :
Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim... 1)Just because you have seen pepole
wearing henna dosent make it Halal... And to say all Muslim women wear it
is and over exaggeration. Under sharia you must speak the truth if there is
just one Muslim women who dosent wear henna you've just made youself a
liar... Rasulluah(sallalahu alaihi wasallam) said The Liars are those who
repeat everything they hear(without verifying the information)... He also
said lying leads to falsehood and falsehood leads to Hellfire... We must
protect ourselves by choosing carfully the words we speak... 2) henna
is Halal because Rasullula(SAW) said it was in a Hadith when a women asked
him that vary question... Tattoos are harram because it penatrates the skin
and can't wash away... In another Hadith Rasululla(SAW) said the wudthu is
not complete in the areas where the tattoo is( based on this the scholars
also have the same ruleings for Gusul not being exepted(if the tattoo was
recived before Islam, Islam erases everthing before it and so does hajj and
migration for the sake of Allah...)) So the opinion of the scholars is for
you the preform one of the three to make sure you worship is also exepted..
Becaues in another Hadith rasululla(SAW) said salah is the key to jannah
and wudthu is the key to salah... In another Hadith he(SAW) said there is
no salah without wudthu... May Allah Guid us to study our deen so we
can no with scholars are Rightly Guided and which ones will say anything
for a worldly gain... Like dogs... Allah calls these scholars in Quran...
Allah says those with deviation in there heart will follow the
fatwahs(Scholastic opinions) that please you...
Jazaka Allah
ulhairn.. Asalam walaikum warahmatulahi wabarakatuhu...
Jul 11, 2009 7:01 PM
Guest :
We have here five Henna Hadith... The first shows henna is halal for
unwidowed women but it's smell is disliked. Second henna is recommended by
the prophet to distinguish between a mans hand and a womens. Third Harram
for a man to used on his hands and feet to look like a women. Fourth halal
for a man to use as medicine on his legs. Fith Harram for a recently
widowed women as we know from sharia her mourning time is four months ten
days...
1)Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin:
Karimah,
daughter of Hammam, told that a woman came to Aisha (Allah be pleased with
her) and asked her about dyeing with henna. She replied: There is no harm,
but I do not like it. My beloved, the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him),
disliked its odour.
2)Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin:
A woman made a sign from behind a curtain to indicate that she had a
letter for the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him). The Prophet
(peace_be_upon_him) closed his hand, saying: I do not know this is a man's
or a woman's hand. She said: No, a woman. He said: If you were a woman, you
would make a difference to your nails, meaning with henna.
3)Narrated AbuHurayrah:
A hermaphrodite (mukhannath) who had
dyed his hands and feet with henna was brought to the Prophet
(peace_be_upon_him). He asked: What is the matter with this man? He was
told: Apostle of Allah! he affects women's get-up. So he ordered regarding
him and he was banished to an-Naqi'. The people said: Apostle of Allah!
should we not kill him? He said: I have been prohibited from killing people
who pray. AbuUsamah said: Naqi' is a region near Medina and not a Baqi'.
4)Narrated Salmah:
the maid-servant of the Apostle of
Allah (peace_be_upon_him), said: No one complained to the Apostle of Allah
(peace_be_upon_him) of a headache but he told him to get himself cupped, or
of a pain in his legs but he told him to dye them with henna.
5)Narrated Umm Salamah, Ummul Mu'minin:
The Prophet
(peace_be_upon_him) said: A woman whose husband has died must not wear
clothes dyed with safflower (usfur) or with red ochre (mishq) and
ornaments. She must not apply henna and collyrium.
Sep 17, 2009 9:59 AM
Guest :
i wanted to know, can you apply henna when you are on your periods? i swear
in islam it is not allowed. im really annoyed. eid was coming up aswell. :(
