subject	Occasions
topic	Weddings
grade	Four
time	30 minutes
objective	To enable students to see how Muslims celebrate weddings.
instructional material	Info Sheet 4a - Weddings

 

INTRODUCTION

 

In Islam, there is no specific ceremony prescribed for a wedding, but there are a few prerequisites.  First of all, both the bride and groom must give their consent to get married to each other;  nobody can be married against his or her will in Islam.  Second of all, a minimum of two witnesses must be present when the ceremony takes place.  The Prophet always encouraged that marriage ceremonies be done publically, with family, friends, and neighbours.  Note a quote by him :

“The worst of feasts are those marriage-feasts to which the rich are invited and the poor left out.  And he who refuses to accept an invitation to a marriage feast (for no valid reason) verily disobeys God and his Prophet.”

Finally, the groom must give (or already have given) a gift called MAHR (a form of dower) to his bride.  This MAHR is a gift for the bride, that is exclusively hers.

The ceremony itself, differs from country to country, and culture to culture.

 

DEVELOPMENT

 

Let students read the info sheet.

 

REINFORCING ACTIVITIES

 

Let students get into groups of 3 or 4, and plan a Muslim wedding.  At the end of class, let one student from each group tell the class what they decided to do for the wedding.

INFO SHEET 4a - Weddings

In Islam, there is no specific ceremony prescribed for a wedding, but there are a few prerequisites.  First of all, both the bride and groom must give their consent to get married to each other;  nobody can be married against his or her will in Islam.  Second of all, a minimum of two witnesses must be present when the ceremony takes place.  The Prophet always encouraged that marriage ceremonies be done publically, with family, friends, and neighbours.  Note a quote by him :

“The worst of feasts are those marriage-feasts to which the rich are invited and the poor left out.  And he who refuses to accept an invitation to a marriage feast (for no valid reason) verily disobeys God and his Prophet.”

Finally, the groom must give (or already have given) a gift called MAHR (a form of dower) to his bride.  This MAHR is a gift for the bride, that is exclusively hers.

The ceremony itself, differs from country to country, and culture to culture.