Muslim Pre-Wedding Rituals

Known as 'Nikah' in Urdu, the Muslim marriage is the most important ceremony for Muslims. It is a much awaited occasion, wherein the union of two souls is celebrated in an elegant and charming way. It is not just restricted to a single day. The formal procedures are divided into pre-wedding, wedding and post wedding, each being different from the other. The pre-wedding rituals make a Muslim wedding a very fascinating event to watch. The pre-wedding rituals of the Islam marriage are broadly divided into four phases. Check out information on the pre-wedding Muslim rituals in the following lines.

Muslim Pre-Wedding Customs

Istikhara, Imam-Zamin and Magni
The first phase of the pre-wedding Muslim rituals is known as Istikhara, wherein the religious head takes the approval of the Almighty to perform the wedding. After the consent, the groom's mother pays a visit to the bride's house along with sweets and Imam-Zamin, a silver or goin coin wrapped in silken cloth. The custom of tying the coin onto the upper portion of the bride's hand is called the Imam-Zamin ceremony. This is followed by Magni, which is a custom wherein the groom's family members pay a visit to the bride's house both the groom and the bride's family exchange sweets and fruits.

Manjha And Mehndi
At the Manjha ceremony, the bride wears yellow clothes and turmeric paste is applied all over her body. After the application of turmeric, the bride is not supposed to step out of the house. This is followed by Mehndi ceremony, which is one of the much awaited rituals of the Muslim wedding. Female relatives of the bride apply turmeric paste all over her body. The purpose is to make the bride's skin glow naturally. A professional or a relative applies Mehndi on the bride�s hands and feet.