Muslim Festivals and Ceremonies — Page 48
Marriage. The family is the basic unit of human society. According to the teachings of Islam the foundation of the family is laid through marriage. Marriage is regarded as a civil contract between the parties. Since there is no priesthood in Islam the marriage can be solemnised by anyone who has the knowledge of Islamic law, and it can be performed at a place convenient to the parties. The ceremony is called NIKAH or the pronouncement of the marriage. . Usually it is performed in a mosque by the Imam of the mosque. . When the bride, bridegroom, their parents, friends, and relatives assemble in the mosque, the Imam recites:48 الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ وَنُؤْمِنُ بِهِ وَ نَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَيْهِ وَنَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَ مِنْ سَيَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللَّهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْهُ فَلَا هَادِي لَهُ وَنَشْهَدُ أن لا إله إلا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَنَشْهَدُ ان مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ ، يَاَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ مَنْ نَّفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيرًا وَنِسَاءً وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءَلُونَ بِهِ وَ الْأَرْحَامَ إِنَّ اللهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَتهُيَّا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللهَ وَتُوْلُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا تُصْلِحُ لَكُمْ أَعْمَا تَكُوو يَغْفِرُ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عظِيمًا اَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللهَ وَلَتَنْظُرْ نَفْس ما قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍ وَاتَّقُوا اللهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ )