Notes on Muhammadanism/Chapter 39
XXXIX.—NIKAH, OR MARRIAGE.
Nikah, is the celebration of the marriage contract as distinguished from the festive rejoicings which usually accompany it; the latter being called Shádí in Persian and Urdú, and ʾUrs in Arabic.
Marriage, according to Muhammadan law, is simply a civil contract, and its validity does not depend upon any religious ceremony.
The legality of marriage depends upon the consent of the parties, which is called I′jáb and Qabúl, viz. declaration and acceptance; the presence of two male witnesses, or one male and two females[1]; and a dower of not less than ten dirhems to be settled upon the woman. The omission of the settlement does not, however, invalidate the contract; for, under any circumstances, the woman becomes entitled to her dower of ten dirhems or more. Muhammadans are permitted by the Qurán[2] to marry four free women, and to have as many female slaves as he may possess. Marriages for a limited period were sanctioned by "the Prophet"; but this law is said to have been abrogated, although it is allowed by the Shíaʾhs even in the present day. These temporary marriages are called Mutʾah, and are undoubtedly the greatest blot in Muhammad's moral legislation.
Marriage is enjoined upon every Muslim, and celibacy is frequently condemned by Muhammad. The "clergy" are all married men, and even the ascetic orders are, as George Herbert would have said, "rather married than unmarried." It is related in the Hadís, that Muhammad said that, "when the servant of God marries, he perfects half his religion." Not long ago we met a Faqír of the Nukshbandía order, a man of considerable reputation at the court of Cabul, who said that he wished to lead a celibate life, but that his disciples had insisted upon his "perfecting his religion" by entering upon the married state!
As the religious ceremony does not form part of the legal conditions of marriage, there is no uniformity of ritual observed in its celebration. Some Qázís merely recite the Fátihah (the first chapter of the Qurán), and the Darúd, or blessing; but the following is the more common order of performing the service. The Qází, the bridegroom, and the bride's attorney, with the witnesses having assembled in some convenient place, arrangements are made as to the amount of Dower, or Mahr. The bridegroom then repeats after the Qází the following:—
1. The Istighfár, "I desire forgiveness from God, who is my Lord."
2. The four chapters of the Qurán commencing with the word "Qul." These chapters have nothing in them connected with the subject of marriage, and appear to be selected on account of their brevity.
3. The Kalima, or Creed. "There is no deity but God, and Muhammad is the Prophet of God."
4. The Sift-ul-Imán. A profession of belief in God, the angels, the scriptures, the prophets, the resurrection, and in fate or absolute decree of good and evil.
The Qází then requests the bride's attorney to take the hand of the bridegroom, and to say, "Such an one's daughter, by the agency of her attorney, and by the testimony of two witnesses, has, in your marriage with her, had such a dower settled upon her, do you consent to it?" To which the bridegroom replies, "With my whole heart and soul, to my marriage with this woman as well as to the dower already settled upon her, I consent, I consent, I consent!"
After this the Qází raises his hands, and offers the following prayer:—
"O great God! grant that mutual love may reign between this couple, as it existed between Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Joseph and Zulekha,[3] Moses and Zipporah, his Highness Muhammad and ʾA′yesha, and his Highness ʾAli Murtuza and Fátimah-uz-Zahra."
The ceremony being over, the bridegroom embraces his friends and receives their congratulations. Nikah is preceded and followed by festive rejoicings, which have been variously described by Oriental travellers; but they are not parts of either the civil or religious ceremony.
- ↑ In Muhammadan law woman, instead of being man's "better half," is only equal to half a man!
- ↑ "Of women who seem good in your eyes marry two, or three, or four; and if ye fear that ye shall not act equitably, then one only, or the slaves whom ye have acquired." (Sura iv. 3.)
- ↑ According to Muhammad, Joseph afterwards married Zulekha, the widow of Potiphar.