Rain - A Beautiful Blessing !

It is a pleasant rainy evening and I am sitting by the window of my house.The view outside is just magnificent.

The most amazing gift of nature is being showered on the earth from the infinite sky- Drops as beautiful as Pearls!!! After a shower of rain everything around comes back to life,as the mother nature bestowes on everything a touch of 'Fresh Heavenly colour' ! The trees,the buildings,the roads,the cars and everything else look dazzling and bright new after a delightful day of drizzling.

The trees are looking more spanking and are dancing and swaying with joy.The birds also join in the happiness by singing their unique 'Rain Songs' .To add to the excitement is the natural music, which I call as 'Rain music', created by the falling rain drops.Kids are the most ecstatic beings and it is manifested in the way they are jumping and playing ,without their umbrellas ,in the puddles and making their paper boats float on them.Many are enjoying drives in this lovely weather.

I close my eyes for sometime to feel this divinity .How I feel can't be explained in words! A cooling breeze from the window made me feel,as if I am being carried and transported to an enticing destination . All the worries of this fast-paced life with its hustle and bustle is gone away now.The Rain Music has given my soul a tranquility I fail to achieve from modern age rock and techno music.

I open my eyes after the drizzling has stopped.Oh,what I see! An ambiance as glowing and bright as a 'new bride' !!!Rain is gone away but it was kind enough to leave behind something for all.Pearl drops on the trees ,making the flowers heavenly gorgeous and few of the rain drops on the window pane adding to the beauty of my home,as they sparkle now and then.

As the sky gets little cleared off the clouds, the sun rays peep in from between the clouds, making me feel,as if I have discovered a Stairway -to-Heaven! For me,the best gift left by the rain is a Refreshed Soul and Mind with a new zeal for life,free from all worries and tiredness.I have never ever come across a view more captivating than this one!!

Muslim wedding customs

           Marriage is a highly recommended act (Sunnah) which protects a person from evils and shields one’s morality. It makes a person’s faith stronger and firmer. Marriage brings comfort and solace in the couple’s lives. Marriage is equated as an act of worship. Hence, a lot of importance is given to religious practices and prayers.

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          Usually, when talks about marriage proposal start, most Muslims take help of Istikhara {seeking goodness from Allah(S.W.T)} which helps them to know if the prospective proposal is good and will lead to a happy future or otherwise. But, it is not compulsory and in fact, many Muslims think that in matter of marriage proposals Istikhara should not be taken.
          If both the boy and the girl like each other , talks are taken further by their parents and they decide on the Meher or mehriah(dower), a gift willingly given by the groom to the bride, which can be either in cash or kind or both. It is regarded as a woman’s Haq   (right) to get the Mehr at the time of marriage or  whenever she demands or whenever the groom can give the amount. The amount of the gift and the time of fulfillment of the Mehr should be clearly written in the Nikah- Naama at the time of marriage. Islam strongly prohibits asking for dowry from the bride’s parents. But if they want to willingly gift their daughter ,they can do so.    

          Once all the terms and conditions are finalized, it’s time for the Engagement ceremony. It’s held in the presence of relatives and close friends, where the boy and the girl exchange rings and announce that they are committed to each other. It is to be noted that engagement is not recommended in Islam, but it has become a cultural ritual and a good time for the two families to spend good time and know each other better.    

           Usually, two or three days prior to the marriage, Haldi and Mehndi ceremonies are held only for the ladies of both the families. It takes place at the bride’s house, where the groom’s family members and relatives arrive with gifts and Mehndi (shagun).These days, many Muslims have mehendi ceremony in a hall or a common place and both ladies and gents are invited. It is just another reason for a bride to feel and look special! Green or red colour lehengas, shararas or salwar-kameez are mostly preferred by the bride, although she can wear dress of any other colour as per her choice. It is sunnah for females to apply mehndi  and this sunnah is respected and celebrated to bring good luck and auspiciousness to the bride for her new life . The bride’s hands when adorned with mehndi, have an altogether different charm.    
       
           Bridal mehendi is mostly Indian intricate designs, covering the hands and feet of the bride completely, making them look more delicate and elegant.     Arabic designs , ornamental designs, zardosi  mehendi, embroidery mehndi are recent hits with the modern generation brides and they look stylish and attractive.    
     

        Finally, comes the D-Day when the Nikah ceremony will be held either at the bride’s place or in a hall. Nikaah is read by a maulana ( priest) and a part of the Quran-e-Kareem is read by both the bride and the groom and they accept the sacred marriage contract (nikah) in the presence of the witnesses and all the guests.             

        The bride and groom have been waiting all their lives for this auspicious day and so they leave no stone unturned to look their best! In India, Muslim brides generally opt for red or green colour  lehengas or salwar-kameez. Accessories and jewellery add to the beauty of the bride. The groom is equally excited and wears sherwani or suit. After the nikah is read, the boy and the girl become man and wife and pledge to be partners in good and tough times lifelong.  

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          The next function is Walima, which is the reception from the groom’s side, where the bride is introduced as a new member of the family to the relatives and friends.Worldwide, majority of the Muslims go in for ‘white wedding’, where the bride wears a white gown or dress, to symbolize purity of the occasion. However, in India, red or green colours are worn, though other colours are in demand, too.                        

                                                              

        Marriage is that blessing of God which brings in stability,morality, responsibility, love, peace, tranquility, contentment and happiness to the bride and the groom, which in turn makes their families, near and dear ones happy . It is a time when the long lost friends and relatives get in touch and put in their best efforts to make the wedding a grand success and a memorable one!


Published on: http://www.gloriouspercept.com/muslim-weddings/