WeddingMuslim wedding (Nikah): rituals in order
The heart of a Muslim wedding is the nikah, a marriage contract made with the free consent of the bride and the groom before witnesses. The nikah itself is brief. Customs before and after it vary widely across India.
| Ritual | When | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Mangni | Before the wedding | The engagement. Families exchange gifts and often rings. |
| Manjha (haldi) | A few days before | Turmeric paste is applied to the bride, who traditionally wears yellow. |
| Mehndi | A day or two before | Henna is applied to the bride's hands and feet, with songs. |
| Baraat | Wedding day | The groom arrives with his family and friends and is welcomed by the bride's family. |
| Nikah | Wedding day | The qazi conducts the nikah. The bride and the groom are each asked for their consent, and each answers "qubool hai". This offer and acceptance (ijab and qubool) takes place before witnesses. |
| Mehr | At the nikah | The mehr is the gift promised by the groom to the bride. It is hers by right, and the amount is written in the nikahnama. |
| Nikahnama | At the nikah | The marriage contract is signed by the couple, the witnesses and the qazi. |
| Khutbah and dua | After the nikah | A short sermon is read and prayers are offered for the couple. |
| Rukhsati | After the wedding | The bride takes leave of her family. |
| Walima | After the wedding | A feast hosted by the groom's family to announce and celebrate the marriage. |
Customs differ from family to family and from place to place. This is a general guide for guests and for couples learning about each other's traditions, not a rule book. Reviewed on 11 November 2026.
If you are a guest
- Dress modestly. Many women guests cover their heads during the nikah.
- Men and women may be seated separately. Follow the lead of the hosts.
- The food is a highlight. Wait to be invited to the table.
- The greeting for the couple is "Mubarak ho".
Planning notes for the two families
The qazi and the witnesses
Arrange the qazi or imam who will conduct the nikah and confirm the date, time and place with him. The nikah needs the consent of the bride and the groom and is witnessed, so settle in advance who the witnesses and the bride's representative (wali or wakil) will be.
The mehr
The mehr is agreed between the families before the day and written into the nikahnama. Discuss it calmly and early, so that it is not negotiated in front of guests.
The nikahnama
Ask who will bring the nikahnama, how many copies will be signed and who keeps them. Keep photocopies of identity documents ready if the qazi asks for them. Store the signed nikahnama safely: it is the record of the marriage. For civil registration, see our page on marriage registration.
Seating and the walima
Decide whether men and women will sit separately at the nikah and tell the decorator and caterer. The walima is the groom's family's feast after the wedding and is planned like a reception, with its own guest list.
For the hour-by-hour plan of the day, see the wedding day timeline, and for jobs to hand out, who does what.
Questions people ask
What is mehr?
A gift, usually money, that the groom gives or promises to the bride at the time of the nikah. It belongs to her alone.
What is the walima?
The wedding feast given by the groom or his family after the nikah.
Other traditions
More wedding help
- Planning checklistEvery task from a year before to the week after, with dates.
- Budget plannerPlan and track spending head by head. Your figures stay on your phone.
- Guest listCount families and people for each side and track who is coming.
- Questions for vendorsWhat to ask the venue, caterer, photographer and others before paying.
- Wedding day timelineSample hour-by-hour plans for evening and morning weddings.
- Wedding day bagThe emergency kit and papers to carry on the day.
- Rituals explainedThe ceremonies of eight Indian wedding traditions, in order.
- Marriage registrationHow registration and court marriage work in India.
- Wedding wordingSave-the-date, announcement and thank-you messages to copy.
- Haldi, mehndi, sangeetPlanning the functions before the wedding day.
- Small weddingA simple wedding with fewer guests, planned well.
- Who does whatSharing the work between two families and the cousins.
- Outstation guestsRooms, pick-ups, welcome notes and a help desk.
- Menu planningBuilding the menu and briefing the caterer, without waste.
- Family photo listThe group photographs to plan, and how to get them quickly.
- After the weddingThank-yous, payments, returns, photographs and paperwork.