The Ideal Muslim Marriage (Nikhah)

Assalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakaathuhu

"My brothers and sisters, when a person has faulted how do they make things right? Like I was saying, "The Nikhah (Marriage)" how should it take place? It must be simple! Very simple Nikhah! We must not try and compete with the Jhoneses (Kuffar -- The disbelievers) - No! "That family had a very big Nikhah with 2000 guests! We want to have one with 3000 guests! ; That family gave this gift, we want to have that!" No, you are making it difficult. There will be no Barakhah (blessings) in that marriage. You can invite how many people you want, keep it simple. Keep it segregated, separated. Make sure you understand (that) it is a religious function, it is not social function. Understand that! It is a function that is sacred, and this is why, treat it as though it is a function that is held because of the pleasure of Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) alone, and then you will understand. Today we have, you know, people who get together, music is blasting, men and women are there, the bride who sometimes is very religious, the day she is getting married, her hair is showing, her cleavage is showing, her legs are showing, she is sitting in front of all the men and the husband comes in, he's supposed to be a religious person, but even he chooses clothes that do not depict any religiousness at all, and he wants to sit right in front of everyone, and everyone is taking pictures and congratulating them and all the young boys and girls. It has happened where a man has seen a woman at his own marriage, prettier than his wife, so he divorced his wife to marry that women! Wallahi I am not telling you a lie, it is a true story. Look at this! Why? Because we don't do our things properly, and then some of us say "No man! these people are, like I said, Mulla's from Afghanistan". Astaghfirullah! Wallahi, this is a religious ruling. I mean if some one tells you "read your salah" it does not make them a bad person. If some one tells you, look this is a proper religious function which is spiritual. I had the opportunity of sitting next to a Rabbi, in one of the aircrafts and I learned so much, because a lot of their rules and regulations are very very close to Islam. They are stricter than us in so many things & that is the pure Judaism. Subhaana Allah! But their followers will not go out and say "No...it's a barbaric religion" but we sometimes would like to go out and challenge our own religion and we don't want (it). Why is it? Let us not become dissolved in the cauldron of westernization, dissolved in the cauldron of Satanism, dissolved in the cauldron of worshipping our own desires. That shouldn't be the case. May Allah protect us (Ameen!)."

By Mufti Ismail Menk