April 16, 2021

Everything You Need to Know About Nikah

In India, the soul of a strong society lies in the establishment of families. Or we can call a family the basic unit of society. In such social life among the human, the importance of the establishment of family through marriage is always primary.

Marriage is a matrimonial relationship and an institution in Islam that legalizes sexual acts between a man and a woman for the purpose of procreation of children, promotion of love, mutual support, and the establishment of families, which are considered integral units in society. So read here everything you need to know about Nikah.

Like Hinduism, Islam is a heavy proponent of marriage. However, the Muslim view of marriage differs from the Hindu view, which views marriage as a sacrament rather than a civil contract. Marriage in Islam, according to many philosophers, is a moral obligation. All must marry in order to legally fulfill their desire to have children.

Muslim wedding celebrations last for several days, in which the bride is the real protagonist of the event. Muslim weddings include brightly colored rooms, fresh flowers to honor future couples, and plenty of traditions.

Nikah Nama is a written document that two Muslim partners entering a civil union must sign to legalize their marriage. Under the Muslim Family Law Ordinance of 1961, this is the legal proof and clarifies the rights and obligations recognized by the bride and groom.

There are certain things that are fundamental to every Muslim marriage. Marriages must be declared publicly. Never take them secretly. This wedding ceremony is usually a big party or a party where the couple publicly declares that they are married and worthy of each other.

Traditionally, the Nikah Ceremony often takes place in a mosque, with the mosque leader or imam officiating. Most couples set aside time for a wedding and invite family and friends to attend. In the Islamic tradition, nikah should be as simple as possible so as not to impose financial obligations on the couple.

The marriage contract must be attested by the groom and his guardian, Wali. Wali utters a few words dedicated to the couple in the act of reading the religious scriptures, as is the case with weddings in all religions. The Holy Qur'an is the most important book for ceremonies and prayers. In it, you can see each of the terms and definitions of marriage.

Registration of Marriage under the Law of Islam

Nikahnama is a legal document of Muslim marriages that contains the essential conditions/details of marriage. It is mandatory to register a Muslim marriage as it is considered a civil contract. According to Section 3 of the Muslim Marriage Registration Act, 1981 - "Every marriage entered into between Muslims after the commencement of this Act shall be registered within thirty days after the completion of the Nikah ceremony."

A Nikahnama contains:

  • Place of marriage (with sufficient particulars)
  • Full name of the bridegroom
  • Age
  • Address
  • Full name of bridegroom’s father
  • Whether the father is alive or dead
  • Civil condition of the bridegroom at the time of marriage (Unmarried, Widower, Divorced, Married, and if so, how many wives are alive)
  • According to whether the Nikah was done in person by the bridegroom or by his Vakil or Guardian, the bridegroom's signature or thumb impression is needed.
  • Nikah-full Khan's full name (that is the person conducting the Nikah Ceremony.)
  • Signature of the Nikah-Khan
  • Name of witnesses with residence and address

Mehr

Mehr is an official document that specifies the amount of money the groom pays to the bride who enters into a marriage contract. The two-part Mehr includes a prompt payment before the wedding and the amount set aside for the bride throughout her life. Since the groom shows the ring during the wedding, many couples now use it as a cue.

Money can sometimes be just a formality, or it can be real money, land, jewelry, or education given to the bride. If the marriage is not dissolved before the wedding, the gift is entitled to be used as the bride wishes. Mehr is considered the security of the bride and the guarantee of freedom within the marriage.

Nikah

The marriage contract is signed at the marriage ceremony. In it, the groom or his representative presents the details of the mehr to the bride in front of at least two witnesses. The bride and groom repeat the word qubool hai ("I agree" in Arabic) three times to express their free will.

The terms of the contract are agreed upon by the couple and signed at their ceremony in front of the guests. The Imam delivers a short speech, which is read from the Qur'an. With that, the couple is officially declared married.

Arsi Mushaf is the first time the bride and groom see each other as husband and wife during an Indian Muslim wedding. They are separating with a mirror and place the Holy Qur'an in the middle of it. At this time, according to Indian traditions, the couple can exchange garlands.

Savaqah is the last part of the Nika ceremony. As the couple leaves the church, guests give the bride coins and greet her.

Conclusion

Marriage is a contract of life in any religion or caste. The concept of marriage is to live happily and peacefully for the rest of one's life and to maintain the status of a family. Each person enters into marriage with mutual love and trust. Those who maintain it forever are the ones who succeed in life and become a guide to others.

The Muslim newlyweds, who enter into life accompanied by rituals and practices, follow the great verses of the Qur'an and the guidelines for moving forward in life and move forward with the goodness of mind without doing evil with the fear of God itself.

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