Wedding in Pakistan
Nikah-naama:
Nikah-naama (document of marriage contract) is registered
in Nikah. The Nikahnaama contains several terms and
conditions that are to be respected by both parties
(bride & groom). It includes bride’s right
to divorce her husband. Nikahnaama specifies “Meher,”
the monetary amount the groom will give the bride.
Meher includes two amounts in Pakistani culture, but
in Islamic belief is one total amount; one that is
due before the marriage is consummated and the other
that is a deferred amount given to the bride at a
time to be determined. The Meher guarantees the bride's
freedom within the marriage, and acts as the bride's
safety net.
The fathers of groom and bride (Walis) act as witnesses
to the wedding. If father is not available, the senior
male, brother or uncle performs the ceremony. Islamic
Imam (called maulana or maulvi in Urdu) reads selected
verses from the Quran and waits for the Ijab-e-Qubul
(proposal and acceptance) of wedding. Usually, the
groom's side makes proposal and the bride's side conveys
her assent. Maulvi and witnesses
(gavah) take the Nikahnaama to the bride and
read it aloud to her. She accepts the Nikahnaama saying
'qabool kiya,' meaning 'I accept and signs it. The
Nikahnaama is then taken to the groom and read aloud
to him. He accepts saying 'qabool kiya and signs the
document. The Maulvi and witnesses (gavah) also do
sign the Nikahnaama contract and the wedding becomes
legal. The Maulvi recites the Fatihah, the first chapter
of the Quran, and various durud, or blessings to mark
the closing of Nikah ceremony.
After the wedding is legally
announced, dishes of dates and misri (unrefined
sugar) are served to the groom's family. Groom is
then escorted to his bride where he’s allowed
to site beside his wife. This is the time when sisters-in-law
of groom play pranks and tease the groom.
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