JOIN USWith the result that if you ask a man who is looking worried and dejected the cause of his grief, he replies 'my daughter is getting married'. What an irony that is, what should have made him happy makes him tense and depressed.
A muslim marriage (Nikah) as advocated by the Quran and Prophet Mohammed does away with all the above mentioned evils. A muslim father does not have to bother for dowry, as there is nothing called 'Dowry' in Islam. A husband demanding dowry from the wife, directly or indirectly is prohibited in Islam.
On the contrary, Islam enjoins the groom to give a 'Bridal-Gift' or 'Dower' called 'Mahr' as a token of love and assurance to his would be wife at the time of marriage. In fact without payment of this sum, the marriage cannot get solemnized. The holy Quran instructs the believers,
"And give the women (on marriage) their dower as a free gift…… ;"( Chapter 4: Verse 4) Mahr is a token commitment of the husband's responsibility and may be paid in cash, property or movable objects to the bride herself. The amount of Mahr is not legally specified, however, moderation according to the existing social norm is recommended.
The marriage ceremony itself is very simple. It is a solemn and a sacred contract between a man and a woman. It is not a sacrament as it is revocable.
When consent is given by the groom and bride (preferably the bride accompanied by her agent or guardian) to the marriage contract read out by a person solemnizing the marriage (he need not be a priest) in front of two witnesses the marriage is complete.
The whole marriage ceremony which includes recitation from the holy Quran and supplication apart from reading and recording the marriage contract takes less than 15 minutes.
After the consummation of the marriage, the groom holds a banquet called 'Waleemah.' The relatives, neighbors, and friends are invited in order to make them aware of the marriage. Both rich and poor of the family and community are invited.
Ostentation and wasting of money in marriages is condemned. The Prophet has said: "The best of the marriages is one which is least burdensome in the financial sense to the families of the bride and the groom.