On December 19th, 2015 MD and MCC staff representatives, on behalf of MCC, went to celebrate the wedding of Prince Abubakar Lawal Gummi, who is the son of Justice Lawal Gummi (rtd), Emir of Gummi in Zamfara State, also a partner and close friend of MCC.

 

We gave 2 rams as our wedding gift to show our blessings and respect to Prince Abubakar, and wished him a happy wedding and happy married life in the future. Prince Abubakar thanked for our blessings and wished an excellent future for our cooperation. May our friendship live forever!

 

Attentively picked two goats as the wedding gift in the market

 

The wedding solemnization in mosque at Birrnin Magaji (home town of the bride)

 

At the hometown of the bride, the bridegroom invited his friends and many powerful men, such as Governors and other Emirs, to visit the bride’s home. Their friends, relatives and other villagers gathered to celebrate by praying, singing and playingmusical instruments

 

After the visit in bride’s home, the groom—Prince Abubakar went back to his own home, where he would fete his friends and they would celebrate and have a feast.

Notice:

Brief introduction of Nigerian Muslim weddings

 

There are even varied rituals performed before and after the wedding, which lead to the completion of the ceremony. Given below is some vital information, regarding the Muslim wedding rituals.

 

Pre Wedding Rituals

The first wedding ritual is the Istikhara, wherein the groom and the bride seek Allah consent (a kind of prayer/ supplication for Allah's' choice). After it is done, the groom's parents visits the bride's house with sweets and kola nut, asking for their daughter's (bride) hands in marriage for their son (groom), on acceptance of the bride family to marry out their daughter, a stipend (dowry) in form of a silver or gold coin or cash etc., is ascribed is to be paid (bride price), subsequently a date will be slated for the wedding ceremony/ solemnization. Invitation will be sent out both from the groom and the bride family informing families, friends and well-wishers. Subsequently, the groom's family sends clothes and jewelries for the bride, to be worn during the wedding ceremony. At eve of the wedding day the bride and the groom family mostly women will gather either in the brides home or an agreed venue where the bride is beautifully dressed and the hands and feet of the bride are adorned with henna designs also families, friends and well-wishers exchange pleasantries.

Wedding Rituals

On the main wedding day, the groom and his family, friends and well-wishers leaves for the bride's house. On the wedding venue, they are given a hearty welcome. Soon after this, the Nikah (solemnization) is commenced. There are two representative one from each part and a religious head present at the place (mostly in mosque), representing the two parties. The amount of dowry a compulsory amount of money to be given to the bride by the groom's family is also decided and given. After this, the groom representative asks the bride hand in marriage three times, whether she accepts the concerned person as her husband, with settled the amount of the Dowry. After her consent, the groom is asked three times, whether he accepts the concerned woman as his wife, with the decided amount of dowry. After his consent, the Nikah process is concluded offering prayers and wishes for blessed marriage life and generation witness by all people in attendance. This is followed by the recital of Khutba, a religious discourse. Blessings are showered upon the bride and the groom for a prosperous married life. Following a lavish reception dinner, the couple is seated fact to face each other, with their heads covered (in some cases).

Post Wedding Rituals

After the wedding rituals are over, the bride is bid farewell to families, friends and well-wishers. On reaching the groom's house (the couple house), the next day is the Walimah ceremony, this comes after the couple met and they call for a kind of eating together for a blessing in the home, then couple visits parental home for the first time after marriage. They are given a lavish feast and presents by the both parents.