What is a Nikaah?

I'm sure you've all heard:

I, xyz, take you to be my wife/husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honour you all the days of my life.

These are the words that are said in a Christian wedding. These are the vows taken by the husband and the wife. It's always heart-warming to see a man and his wife loving each other and promising to take care of each other till eternity.

I attended a Muslim wedding today and while I was sitting there, I realized that there's a huge possibility that a lot of you here might not know how a Muslim wedding takes place and what are the vows the man and wife make to each other.

Note: _{the huge grandeur wedding ceremonies that I'm sure a lot of you might have seen somewhere somehow are not a part of our religion, rather it's a cultural amalgamation particular to the Indian Subcontinent}

So what really is an Islamic wedding? It is known as the Nikaah.

For a Nikah to take place, there must be a Nikah sermon. During this sermon, we praise God and offer prayers for the new couple. One of the most important aspects of a valid Nikah is the presence of witnesses. These witnesses ensure that the marriage is conducted openly and in accordance with Islamic principles. The ceremony emphasizes the significance of mutual consent and the public declaration of the marriage. In addition to the witnesses, the sermon often includes readings from the Quran and words of advice and guidance for the couple as they begin their married life together. This makes the Nikah a deeply spiritual and community-centered event.

Nikaah Sermon:

All praises are for Allah. We seek Guidance and forgiveness from Him. We also seek refuge in Him from the evils of our ownselves. Whoever Allah guides, noone can misguide him. Whoever He lets go astray noone can put him back on track. We testify that there is no god but Allah and we testify that Muhammad is Allah's servant and His messenger.

Believers! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and see that you do not die save in the state of submission to Allah. (Quran 3:102)

O men! Fear your Lord Who created you from a single being and out of it created its mate; and out of the two spread many men and women. Fear Allah in Whose name you plead for rights, and heed the ties of kinship. Surely, Allah is ever watchful over you. (Quran 4:1)

O believers, fear Allah and say the right thing. Allah will make your conduct (affairs) whole and sound and will overlook your errors. Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, has indeed attained to a great success. (Quran 33:70-71)

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In Islam, no religious event commences without praising God. Following this brief sermon, prayers (duas) are offered for the bride and groom. Several specific requirements must be adhered to during a Nikaah:

• The husband must provide a specified amount of money to the wife immediately upon marriage. This amount is announced publicly to ensure there are witnesses, and it forms a part of the Nikaah contract.

• The Nikaah contract requires the signatures of one guardian and two witnesses from the bride's side, as well as two witnesses from the groom's side. Without these signatures, the contract is invalid.

• The guardian, usually the father, obtains the bride's signature on the Nikaah contract. This is typically done at her home, and she does not need to be present at the gathering.

• Both the bride and groom are asked separately if they accept each other as husband and wife, thereby completing the Nikaah ceremony.

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After the Nikaah contract is completed, both families congratulate each other and participate in the celebrations by distributing sweets. This occasion is marked by the exchange of warm hugs and well-wishes. The atmosphere is filled with happiness and unity as relatives and friends come together to share in the couple's special day.

So this was all about the Nikaah ceremony of Muslims that holds huge significance.