No specific ceremony is prescribed for marriage. In principle it has been stressed that marriage should take place publicly. Other members of the society should know of this development, preferably in a way that has been adopted by the society as its usage (‘urf). Normally, the nikah (contract of marriage) takes place at a social gathering where members of both the families and other friends and relatives gather. Usually in Muslim society there are persons known as Qadi who discharge this responsibility. In the nikah-sermon they recite from the Qur’an and the Sunnah and invite the spouses to a life of God-consciousness, purity, mutual love and loyalty and social responsibility. Then the marriage is contracted where in ijab (proposal) and qubul (acceptance) are made before the witnesses. After the nikah, the bride moves to the bridegroom’s house and both begin this new chapter of their life. After the consummation of the marriage, the bridegroom holds a feast for the relatives and friends. The real purpose of these gatherings and feasts is to make the events a social function and to let the society know of it and participate in it. The Prophet has recommended the people to hold this celebrations with simplicity and to share each other’s joy. He said:
“The best wedding is that upon which the least trouble and expense is bestowed”.
And that:
“The worst of feasts are those marriage-feasts to which the rich are invited and the poor left out. And he who refuses to accept an invitation to a marriage feasts verily disobeys God and His Prophets”.
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