The Islamic Matrimonial Ceremony

(The Bridegroom signing the Marriage Certificate)

In Islam, for a marriage to be legal, it takes more than signing of the matrimonial contract paper, i.e. the Marriage Certificate. In an Islamic Matrimony Ceremony, first of all the bride will be asked on her standings towards the marriage by the appointed officer-in-charge from the Shari'ah Majistrate State Office known as the Qadhi. He is the person who has been given the authority by the State Shari'ah Majistrate to be the Hakim (Judge) of Matrimonial Ceremony. If the bride agreed on the marriage to be carried out, only then the solemnization would be exercised.

(The Aqad Nikah between the Qadhi and the Bridegroom. Notice the ''Ijab'' is taking place whereby the Qadhi is making his speech to the Bridegroom)

 

The Islamic solemnization is known as ''Aqad Nikah''. Literally ''Aqad'' means Knot and ''Nikah'' means Marry. There are five elements for an Aqad Nikah to take place. First is ''Sheega''. Second, there must be two male witnesses who are free men (not slaves) and true Muslims (not Faasiq). Third, there must be a ''Wali''. Fourth, there must be a bridegroom. Fifth, there must be a bride. For any reasons that the solemnization is being carried out without any one of these elements, the marriage is classified as null and void.
 

(Notice the ''Kabul'' is taking place whereby the Bridegroom is accepting the marriage witness by the two witnesses sitting beside the Qadhi and the Wali)

 

''Sheega'' is the act of solemnization. It constitutes of ''Ijab Kabul''. ''Ijab'' means the clarification from the bride that she is willing to accept the bridegroom as her husband in marriage. ''Kabul'' means the clarification from the bridegroom that he is willing to accept the bride as his lawful wife. The act of ''Ijab Kabul'' has to be carried out between the ''Wali'' and the Bridegroom.
 

(In this Matrimonial Ceremony, the Wali is a ten year old boy who is the brother of the bride. In the photography he is seen sitting between one of the witness and the Qadhi)

Generally, a ''Wali'' is the representative of the bride who is her legal guardian related by lineage and is responsible for her welfare and well being. In normal circumstances he is the father of the bride. Otherwise, in cases whereby the bride's father is not available (due to death or missing) then her brother or any other legal paternal relatives such as grandfather, nephew (brother's son), uncle, cousin (whose father is the brother of the bride's father), grand-uncle (paternal uncle of bride's father), and so on, can be the bride's Wali.
 

(In this photograph, the Wali is seen taking the Aqad of giving the authority to the Qadhi in undertaking the responsiblity of the Wali on his behalf for his sister in the marriage.)

 

In the act of ''Ijab Kabul'' the Wali and the bridegroom has to hold hand (in a shaking-hand position). Upon doing this, hence the ''Aqad'' took place. Then immediately the Wali has to make his speech loud and clear directed to the bridegroom. As soon as he finishes with his speech, he has to shake his hand and the bridegroom has to immediately continue from there by saying out loud and clear that he accepted the marriage with thereby the said dowry.

A speech generally spoken by a Wali who is the father of the bride

''(Saying the name of the bridegroom), I am giving you my daughter, (mentioning the name of the bride), in this marriage by the commandment of Almighty Allah in order for you to take good care of her as your wife and if for any reason should you divorce her, it should be done in good faith. (Saying the name of the bridegroom), I am giving you my daughter, (mentioning the name of the bride), in this marriage with the dowry of (stating the dowry and its amount). ''

[Translated in English -from ''Panduan Ilmu Fiq'h Syeikh Omar Al-Khatib, Bab Munakahat'' ]
 

(A form of dowry. In this Matrimony, it is a gold chain)

 

As soon as the ''Ijab Kabul'' is completed, the Qadhi will ask the two witnesses on the validity of the act of solemnization. After hearing the validity of the matrimony from the two witnesses, the Qadhi give the drafted oath prepared by the Shari'ah Magistrate State Office to the bridegroom for him to take his oath in front of those who are present during the solemnization. It is included in the oath that the bridegroom promise to perform his duty as a husband and head of his family.

 

After the completion of the oath taking by the bridegroom, the Qadhi then issue the Marriage Certificate to be signed by the newly wed couple as well as the Wali. The Matrimonial Ceremony usually ends with supplications made together, headed by the Qadhi followed by the others, similar to that at the beginning of the ceremony. Normally a Wedding feast will then be held afterwards or on the following day.

 

Narrated Anas hin Malik (r.a.): The Prophet (s.a.w.) saw the trace of yellow colour on 'Abdur Rahman bin 'Auf (r.a.) and asked, ''What is this?'' He replied, ''O Messenger of allah, I have married a woman for a Nawat weight (equal to the weight of a date-stone) of gold.'' He said, ''May Allah bless you! Hold a wedding feast, even if with a goat (only).'' [(Agreed upon) - ''Bulugh Al-Maram'' complied by Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani)

Reference

• M.Salleh Bin A.Hamid (2002). ''Panduan Ilmu Fiq'h Syeikh Omar Al-Khatib-Bab Munakahat''. SAH Publication, Sinngapore.
• Muhammad Bin Ismail Al-Sanani (1996). ''Bulugh Al-Maram complied by Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani''. Dar-us-Salam Publications, Saudi Arabia.