A Malay-Muslim Wedding in Kuala Lumpur 2

The ceremony begins with the wedding sermon (kutbah nikah) read by the official.

The kutbah is followed by the akad or ijab-kabul (akin to the offer and acceptance in a contract) with the Juru Nikah deputizing as the Wali (guardian) of the bride.  The witnesses need to confirm that the validity of the ijab-kabul.

 

A doa (prayer) is said on the completion of the solemnization.

 

This is followed by the groom pronouncing the talak ta'alik (conditional divorce).  

This is a Malaysian regulation brought about due to irresponsible husbands.  As generally, divorce in Islam is the prerogative of the husband, this allows the Kadi (Islamic Jurist) to invoke the divorce in the event the husband leaves the wife for a period of 4 months without providing for her whatsoever.  Of course there are differences in opinion as to the validity of such conditional divorce.  

 

In this modern world of ours, all contracts need to be in writing to aid enforceability, and marriage contracts are no exception.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Presenting the mas-khawin (dowry) is a condition of a valid nikah (marriage).

Compared with a Chinese or a Hindu wedding, the Malay-Muslim wedding is a simple affair.

As the solemnization is over, its time for a group photo with the rest of the family.

 

 

A Malay-Muslim Wedding in Kuala Lumpur

After sharing a Chinese Wedding Tea Ceremony and a Hindu Temple Wedding, it's only proper that I include a Malay-Muslim Wedding to complete the 3 major cultural groupings found in Kuala Lumpur.  I'm indeed fortunate to include among my friends people of various communities.  Hopefully I get invited to weddings of other communities such as Sikh and Christian.

The solemnization ceremony (nikah) was held at the Masjid Wilayah Persekutuan.

The groom with his best-man posing outside the masjid.

 

The bridal party arrive at the masjid.

 

The masjid has an exclusive hall for conducting marriage ceremonies. 

 

The bridal party gathering inside the masjid.

 

The Juru Nikah (Marriage Official) arrives with his 2 assistants who will act as witness to the solemnization of the marriage.

 

The officials take their positions.

 

 

The bridal party enters the hall and the bride takes her designated place.

 

The guest also take their positions.  Notice the wedding gifts (hantaran) placed in the hall.

 The groom and other 'elder' male relatives take their respective places.  The official briefs those present of the procedures that are to follow.

 

 He then verifies that all particulars are in order.

We all wait for the solemnization ceremony to begin.

Wedding at a Hindu Temple 3

Tying the 'thali' is the most important part of a Hindu wedding ceremony, but that is not the end of a traditional ceremony...

The ceremony is followed by the exchange of garlands. 

(In the 1980s, an exchange of garlands by a couple in front of the statue of a Hindu deity constitutes a legally binding marriage in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.  I don't know if that statute has since been changed.)

 

 

After the exchange the couple have to go around the sacred flame or Agni.

After the second round, they were stopped by the priest.

 

The priest requested the bride to place her right foot on the grinding stone.

 

  

The groom had to wash her feet with water followed by milk.  Then he had to put a toe ring on.  This was done to both feet.

 

 They then proceeded with their third and final round of the flame.

When they completed their rounds, they had to find a shell dropped by the priest into a pail of turmeric water.

The groom then placed a necklace, a gift from the groom's family, I presume.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The couple were then garlanded and blessed by the elder members of the families, one by one, after which the the couple had to pay homage to them.

 With that concluded, the rest or the guests took their turn in congratulating the couple.