Arranged marriages are quite usual in a Muslim community. Most young people are happy that their parents will make a good choice for them. Family opinion, social standing, similar interests, background and personality will be taken into account when their parents are making there decision on to who to pick.



It is very unusual for a Muslim man to have more then one wife. He is able to have up to four wives, but he must be able to provide for them all equally. Occasionally it might happen if his wife is unable to have children or if she becomes very ill and needs looking after, and then the man will take on another wife.

The marriage ceremony is often held in the bride’s home or in the mosque. Muslims in different parts of the world have developed there own customs, many of them are just for fun and are really necessary.

On the day of the wedding the groom will be leading his family to the bride’s house. The groom might wear a head dress of flowers. He gives his bride a present of money. This is sometimes called a bridal price. Occasionally the men will go to one room and the women to another, but this is quite rare now. In some places the bride will wear red and white symbols to show fertility and purity. There is no rule about dress people do what pleases them. Often the ceremony will conducted by the imam, if not it may be made by any man who knows the process. The bride is asked three times if she wants to marry the groom. Then he is asked and then says some words from the Qur’an. When everyone has agrees the imam declares them to be married and they all sign the wedding the list, they are also given a wedding certificate.

Once a Muslim lady becomes a wife, her first responsibility is to look after the home and family. Traditionally she does not go out to work though it is quite often in this country that they do. In those cultures where women do not go out to work, providing for the family is the responsibility of the husband, and she will help to teach her children about Islam.