Islamic Wedding Traditions

Marriage Customs in the Muslim World

© Christine Benlafquih

Apr 4, 2008
Hand decorated with henna, Rema Nasaredden - stock.xchng.com
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.