The nikah ceremony tends to be simple in the Mosque, as Prophet Muhammad considered simple weddings the best weddings, “The best wedding is that upon which the least trouble and expense is bestowed” (Mishkat).
In Islam, if it is an arranged marriage, often the bride and bridegroom have not met.
During the nikah it is usual for an Imam to be present and during. However, an Imam does not have to be present as long as there are two male witnesses. During the nikah it is usual for a party of men including the bridegroom to be present as well as the bride and two witnesses. However some Muslim communities hold the nikah without the bride present and a wali takes her place as a representative.
In Islam, the beginning of the nikah is different, as often it begins with the giving of mahr, a marriage gift which is usually dowry, given to them bride by the bridegroom. This is an essential part of the nikah contract as it makes her financially viable in case of divorce as well as showing the bridegroom’s commitment. The giving of dowry originates from the Qu’ran, ‘And give the women (on marriage) their mahr as a (nikah) free gift’. A sermon is often then given by the Imam which invites the bride and bridegroom, as well as the participating guests in the assembly to a life of piety, mutual love, kindness and social responsibility. This is done as Prophet Muhammad made it his tradition, Sunnah, to have a marriage sermon delivered to solemnize the marriage.
The agreement to the marriage is a Muslim ceremony as here there is a mutual agreement by the bride and bridegroom and vows are exchanged. However, if the bride does not attend, instead the wali is asked three times whether or not the bride accepts the marriage.
The nikah is often concluded, as the Imam says a prayer for the bride, bridegroom, their families, the local Muslim community and the Muslim community at large, Ummah. The walimah follows the Muslim nikah ceremony, in which the friends and relatives celebrate and give presents to the new husband and wife in both religions.
In Islam during the walimah the Muslim bride tends to dress up for the special occasion. They usually wear red or a deep pink-coloured silk, embroidered with gold threads, as red is considered to be a happy, bright colour, appropriate for the wedding. Muslims brides also wear special clothes. These are called shalwar, which are loose or baggy trousers, kameez, which is a long embroidered tunic, and dupatta, which is a long scarf. in Islam often the bridegroom wears a white veil as this represents that it is an arranged marriage and love does not exist
In Islam, the nikah contract signed by married Muslims and the witnesses of the wedding is a legal document, the nikah contract is a contract that gives both the husband and the wife rights and responsibilities. Conditions are often included in the nikah contract as because in Islam arranged marriages are usual, love is not present at the time of the wedding ceremony.
