Muslim wedding, also known as the Nikah ceremony, is one of the most celebrated occasions in Islam because marriage is a Prophetic tradition. There are countless ways Muslims celebrate and perform weddings. Most Muslim weddings will, at the very least, include a Nikah/katb Al kitab (the signing of a marriage contract), a presentation of a Mahr (a gift, usually of monetary value, that the groom gives to the bride), and a Walima/Valima (reception).
The Nikah is a religious ceremony for a Muslim couple to be legally wed under Islamic law. This ceremony makes the wedding official because in the Islamic tradition it’s not permissible for a couple to be intimate without a Nikah. So, if you have ever thought of what vows are said at a Muslim wedding, then this post is for you.
Traditionally, the Muslim wedding ceremony, or nikkah, does not include vows. Instead the imam, or cleric, will provide a short sermon and marital blessing and the newlyweds will offer their consent. If Muslim brides and grooms do choose to include a vow exchange, it typically follows the recitation below.
The Nikah legitimizes the relationship in front of God and it’s when the couple says, “I accept.”
Bride: “I, ___, offer you myself in marriage in accordance with the instructions of the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him. I pledge, in honesty and with sincerity, to be for you an obedient and faithful wife.”
Groom: “I pledge, in honesty and sincerity, to be for you a faithful and helpful husband.”