They ask thee concerning orphans. Say: "The best thing to do is what is for their good… {2.220}
And (remember) what hath been rehearsed unto you in the Book …] that ye stand firm for justice to orphans. There is not a good deed which ye do, but Allah is well-acquainted therewith {4.127}
Many complex angles of Karachi - one you are now beginning to read about more is Karachi’s elite night-life, the clubs, the so-called Western influences. Then there is stuff like this that takes place on a daily basis for some of the orphans at Karachi’s Edhi Foundation, to which the rest of society is oblivious…
Maybe she should have received more education beyond the highschool level, but oh well - being an orphan, there would have been no way she could have afforded this on her own. If it weren’t for the Edhis, i wonder where she would be today.
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Recently a wedding was held at the Edhi Foundation in Karachi. The bride, an orphan, grew up at the Edhi Centre. Shazman Shariff reports on the arrangements for the event.
Iqra was six years old when she was brought to the Edhi home in Karachi. The people there provided her a loving atmosphere. She did her high school and mastered different household skills. Now in her late teens, she recently got married.
During the Rasm-i-Hina the Bilquis Edhi home in Clifton had a festive look as the girls made arrangements for the evening. Celebrations had begun a couple of days earlier, when they gathered every night singing wedding songs, while Iqra got her ubtan massage.
It was not planned to be an extravagant event, which has become a norm these days. To keep it a simple affair the boy’s side was not invited, the only invitees were the girls housed at that place and other Edhi homes.
By eight o clock, the main hall was almost packed to its capacity reverberating with drumbeats and wedding songs. Some 250 girls and young boys sat waiting for the ceremony to start. Their wait ended when Iqra,clad in a beautiful yellow dress entered the hall escorted by her friends. Soon Bilquis Edhi, attired in a plain cotton yellow dress, came to perform the Rasm-i-Hina.
Rich fragrance of motia and rose filled the room and sound of lively songs enlivened the atmosphere, with a group of girls gathered in a circle to perform a stick dance. Loud clapping added further vibrancy to the environment and gained thunderous proportion when Mrs Edhi joined the group to perform the traditional luddi.
While the girls carried on, Mrs Edhi took a break and gave TR details of the wedding, the 66th one in her 35 years of social service. She explained that she came to know about the bridegroom through some people. “The main things we check are the boy’s job and salary, character, whether the house he lives in is his own or rented and his household atmosphere. We seek the girl’s consent and allow a brief encounter, but not a lengthy meeting,” she said.
Waheed, in his early twenties, is a motor mechanic and runs his own car repair shop earning around Rs 20,000 a month. Mrs Edhi added: “Since the boy has no employer, we contacted the neighbourhood to inquire about him and also took a character certificate from the town nazim.”
Stating how they enjoyed the shopping sprees with Mrs Edhi at Jamma Cloth Market, Boulton Market and Mithadar, one of the girls working for Edhi Foundation said: “Shopkeepers usually cooperated with us and gave us discount once they knew who we were.” Acknowledging the help people extend to them, Mrs Edhi said: “You see the beautiful dresses my girls are wearing, I have not bought them. The boutique people gave them to us for free in a bulk.”
Although ostentation was avoided it was made sure that the bride got a proper wedding. She was given 45 dresses, besides the furniture and other usual things. Keeping with the tradition, the nikah and rukhsati was performed with simplicity at the Mithadar office, but the mehndi was celebrated at a large scale followed by dinner. Mrs Edhi explained: “We must do that otherwise the girl would feel bad. We care for her emotions and sentiments too.”
Iqra sat shyly watching her friends enjoying. “The only way I can pay them back is through proving myself a good wife and a daughter-in-law, and honour the training I received at this home,” she said.
Sometime before 11 pm, the guests were called for dinner. The sumptuous chicken roast, parathey, kabab, followed by halwa was eaten by all. The function had come to an end. But not for the girls at home who had planned to stay awake till late to relish the joys of the day.
The preparation for the wedding at Mithadar kicked off in the true sense at around 3:30 pm when Iqra put on her bridal dress, an attractive red shirt shalwar brought by the boy’s side. “There are brides who wearwear dresses worth upto Rs100,000.Iqra’s dress was worth Rs1,000 but it simply makes no difference,” said Bilquis Edhi as she came to hand over jewellry brought by the boy’s family along with 14 dresses and three pairs of shoes plus a make-up kit and bangles for the bride.
With some time on her hand, Mrs Edhi talked about the difficulties she faced in getting proposals for her girls. “Often wealthy and already married elderly men approach me who are desirous of having a young bride. Most are not too educated and come from interior Sindh and Punjab,” she stated. To keep at bay proposals like these, she maintains a strict criteria for selection. Perhaps this is the reason that the success rate of marriages she has solemnized are 100 per cent. “I don’t want rich families but kind hearted people who would genuinely care for the well being and happiness of an orphaned girl.”
It was heartening to see the interest Mrs Edhi and her daughters, Kubra and Almas had taken to make arrangements for the occasion. Everything was well taken care of, right from buying a wrist-watch and a suit for the groom, to complementary suits for his mother, father and sister. Mrs Edhi briefed Iqra, just like she did with her own daughters, on how to win everybody’s heart in her husband’s home.
The excitement at Mithadar increased as the evening progressed and the sitting arrangement and delivery of refreshments were finalized. The boy was expected to be there by five but it was a long wait before the baraat finally arrived and the place was buzzing with commotion.
Once the baraat settled down nikah was solemnized and dry dates were distributed followed by refreshment. Cameras clicked as Waheed was led in to be seated with his young bride. After a brief photo session it was time for Rukhsati. Iqra broke into tears when she was bade farewell by Mrs Edhi and her mates.
Briefly sharing his views with TR a week after his wedding with Iqra, Waheed said: “We both are very happy.” Sounding satisfied that everything went smoothly, but with simplicity, he said he would like to see others following suit. “I plan to take her to Mianwalli, my hometown, and to Islamabad soon,” he added.
:k:
he is my fav. personallity after our Holy Prophet :saw: