I don’t know if this is more relevent to the religion section. Although it seems to have been discussed to death here, could somebody explain the actual meaning of an engagement, I guess both in our culture and more importantly religion.
Fbi786 mentioned before about 3 ceremonies that are jaiz and mustahab that should be done in Islam, if possible and you have time could you explain them?
Thank you x
Re: Engagements
If you are asking with religious point of view, 99% of the things (such as engagement, mehndi, shadi, valima, jahaiz etc etc) are irrelevant. Here is a kicker, you dont even need QAZI SAHAB for the nikkah as long as you have couple of gawah and bride and groom say "ejab o qabool"
Re: Engagements
there is no religious basis for an engagement. In Islam there is no such thing as an engagement, it is something we have picked up from different cultures, and that is what we now call the period between when we decide to marry someone, and actually get married. In Islam, there is only Nikkah, and Valima. Nikkah is the islamic marriage/legal marriage, and then valima is an annoucement from the guys family that these 2 people have been married.
Re: Engagements
^Actually, there IS the concept of engagement in Islam but it just signifies the intent to marry and a period where the boy or girl should no longer send or accept any more proposals (obviously)..
For some reason a lot of desis, esp the older generations, like to pretend that there is no such thing as engagement.. perhaps they are just desperate to get the couples married off and I suppose with an engagement period there is more time and therefore maybe more chance of the girl or boy not agreeing to their parents’ decisions or backing out..
‘and it was narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) got engaged to ‘Aa’ishah. (Al-Bukhaari, al-Nikaah, 4793). And in al-Saheeh it also states that the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) got engaged to Hafsah. (Al-Bukhaari, al-Nikaah, 4830).’