The Distinct Traditions in Sunni Muslim Post Wedding Marriages

Muslim matrimonial is celebrated with a lot of grandeur and happiness. In the olden days, the marriage ceremony would usually take place in the home of the bride or groom but recently, in order to accommodate all the guests, many Sunni Muslims are opting for banquets or halls for the ceremony. There is no particular Muhurat for the wedding so the date is usually fixed as per the convenience of both the families. No matter where the wedding takes place, Sunni Muslims participate eagerly in the all the wedding rituals right from pre-wedding to post wedding.

Wedding of Sunni Muslims

An Islamic marriage ceremony is called a Nikah and it is officiated by a Maulvi or a priest called the Qazi. There are two distinct types of Muslims that include Shia and Sunni Muslims. Their wedding rituals, marriage traditions and overall concept of marriage is quite different. In a Shia marriage, the couple enters with a fixed-term plan where they part ways after the expiry date of the contract. On the contrary, Sunni weddings are more permanent and it is expected for the husband and wife to stay together all their life.

The wedding ceremony involves signing the marriage contract and in Sunni Muslim weddings, two witnesses are required to complete the marriage. One of the largely practiced tradition in Sunni weddings is having the bride propose to the groom as per the tradition of Khadija where the Mohammad’s first wife proposed to the Prophet. The bride and groom also use the term ‘in the tradition of the Prophet I agree to…’. This implies their acknowledgement of the customs or Sunna of the Prophet which is a major component of the Sunni weddings.

Sunni Muslim Post Wedding traditions

Many of the post wedding traditions in Sunni Muslims are based on the life of the Mohammad and his community. Though these are not celebrated rituals, they are an important part of the religion and are followed strictly by all Sunni Muslims. Some of them include cutting one’s hair ceremonially after a visit to the Hajj, circumcision of a baby boy, celebrations after the birth of a child (called as aqiqa). Since Sunni Muslims follow the Sunna of Mohammad, most of these traditions are done in the presence of an Islamic scholar (also known as Imam). An Imam is not a priest or a rabbi in a cleric sense but is surely of high importance in various events in the life of a Sunni Muslim.

It may seem that life events that are considered sacraments in other faiths are not celebrated in a similar way in Islam. Many scholars have observed that potentially everything is sacred as per the Sunna of Mohammad and Muslims with this faith are known to have a model behaviour for all the daily activities of life.

Once a couple engages in Muslim matrimonial, they are bound by the customs of Sunni Muslims and they are known to add a sense of ceremony to various aspects of daily life in their marriage. Whether it is child birth, a religious trip to Hajj, the birth of a boy or an unlikely event of Talak, Sunnis will conduct all these life events with religious faith as per the Sunna of the Mohammad.

Frequently Asked Questions about Sunni Muslim Wedding Ceremonies

A major part of the Muslim sects are Sunnis while a small percentage of others are called Shias. Sunnis have a spate of customs and rites that they perform when it is time for a wedding in the family. While some families look within their community or circle of friends, others look up eligible matches in Muslim Matrimonial sites. Once they have a suitable coupling they move forward with the many wedding functions that are vital to the Sunni community.

What is the Nature of a quintessential Sunni Muslim Nuptial?

Sunni Muslim nuptials are quite a celebration with both families rejoicing at the merry union of the couple. These weddings do not entail a muhurat like in other Indian weddings for Islam states that the marriage be held whenever it is most convenient to both the families. Moreover, these ceremonies are traditionally supposed to be performed at wither the bridegroom’s house or the bride’s. Of late, however, a lot of families hold Sunni weddings at hotels, banquet halls or other venues. This is due to the long list of visiting relatives and friends as well as the want of space.

Is Procuring Permission for Marriage Necessary for Sunnis?

Yes, indeed the bride and groom also have to procure permission for the marriage from a Wali. The Wali is the father or guardian in most cases where the children are concerned. The Maliki or Shafi’i and Hanbali recommend this as does the Hanafi.

How does a Sunni Nikah take place?

The communities are generally very close and solemnize marriages in a very traditional way. Sunni ceremonies consist of pre-wedding, nuptial and then post-nikah functions. Since Muslims like to play it by the book they accept the hadith of Muhammad al-Bukhari and follow the customs mentioned therein. When it comes to the actual nikah, one of the main ceremonies is the signing of the marriage contract between the couple. Once both parties have accepted the match and stated that it is ‘kabool’ they then each sign the contract separately.

Is it Customary to have Witnesses Present for a Sunni Wedding Ceremony?

Traditional Sunni marriages are forever and bode an air of permanence; therefore the nikah requires at least a couple of consenting adult males as witnesses. These witnesses are required to be there for the entire span of the nuptials as they have to bear testimony of the authenticity of the nikah.

What Kind of Music and Songs are Sung at a Nikah?

Quite a host of folk songs like the Mailanchi Pattu are sung by musicians at Sunni nuptials. The Oppana Pattu is common at wedding ceremonies and women attending the wedding join along with claps and humming. Most of the lyrics are laced with words of Arabic and they tend to have a special edifying identity. However, lately nuptials have kawwalis and modern Sufi music played as well.

Finally, usually a great Walima feast is held in honor of the bride once she is married and moves to her husband’s abode as a post-nikah custom. It is believed to be great sunnah according to prophet Muhammad.