An-Nikah: A Journey Through the Muslim World

Marriage is the legal contract that defines the union of two people for civil, religious, or both purposes. Celebrated with a public ceremony, it establishes a series of rights and obligations between the spouses and toward any children—much as Roman law once prescribed. Through history, the framework remains essentially the same, even if the participants and the ritual’s details change.

Today, as societies increasingly define themselves across racial and cultural lines, exploring the customs of “exotic” lands is not just a matter of curiosity but a necessity. Discovering seemingly distant traditions—and recognizing shared expressions that echo our common past—is like embarking on a captivating journey, one that sparks fresh ideas and fosters the fundamental respect due to what we consider “different.”

For Muslim believers, marriage is a binding contract sworn before Allah. Cementing this bond involves conventions and gestures rich in symbolic meaning, grounded in the precepts of the Qur’an—which, whether one agrees or not, describe a community where the male role remains dominant. Polygamy is permitted for some men, who are forbidden to “mix” their blood with atheists (though Jewish and Christian women are exceptions). Women, by contrast, have little choice: they must marry a man of the same faith.

Alongside the usual sense of marital responsibility comes an embrace of fertility, leading to the rejection of contraception and abortion. Divorce, though allowed by Scripture, is regarded as an act of recklessness.

From the month before the wedding, traditions guiding every step of the nuptials begin to unfold. The meeting with the Imam—moral and spiritual guide—is the ceremony’s central moment, one that culminates before Allah. The actual rite takes place either in a mosque (known as the Nikah or Fatiha) or at the bride’s family home. The bride is escorted by her father or her wali (guardian), who hands her to the groom, accompanied by two male witnesses. After a Qur’an reading, the couple exchanges consent—their version of wedding vows—affirming their intention to live in Allah’s grace.

From the solemn ceremony, the celebration explodes into days of joyous revelry, with the bride as the focal point. Surrounded by a female entourage—men and women always remain separate—she changes outfits up to seven times in a dazzling display. Each costume is unique, symbolizing social status and promising continuity and prosperity for the new family.

The food is, predictably, exceptional, and the music and dance are exclusively devotional. The event often concludes with guests offering thanks and gifts, but many fascinating details still await discovery…

One standout custom is the prenuptial agreement on the mahr—the sum the groom gives the bride, a heartfelt pledge to eternal love. Another beloved ritual is the henna night on the wedding eve, invoking luck and fertility as the bride’s hands and feet are painted and her body anointed with precious oils. Like Western brides, she receives flowers from her groom, and at the wedding’s end guests toss rice. The wedding cake? It’s famously cut with a sword. And instead of handing out sugared almonds at the close, guests receive them along with their invitations.