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Unlock This CourseA rite of passage is a ceremony that marks an important stage in a person's life, such as birth or marriage. In Islam these rites show that life is a gift from Allah, link a person to the Muslim community and teach what Muslims believe. This lesson covers birth and marriage. The next lesson covers mourning and funeral rites.
Key terms:
A new baby is welcomed as a blessing from Allah, and the family thanks Allah for the gift. Several rituals follow, and most are described in the hadith as part of the sunnah, the example of the Prophet.
Soon after birth, a father or another family member whispers the adhan (the call to prayer) into the baby's right ear. Many families whisper the iqamah, the second call that starts the prayer, into the left ear. This means the first words the child hears are the greatness of Allah and the call to worship. You met this in the lesson on Muslim nurture.
A relative or respected person chews a date, then gently rubs a little on the baby's lips or mouth. It is a sunnah, because hadith report that the Prophet did this for newborn babies. It is a sweet start in life and a prayer for the child's blessing.
On the seventh day the family holds the aqiqah. It has three parts:
Some families give money to charity so that meat can be given out for them. This is common in the UK, where a family may not be able to arrange the sacrifice themselves.
Khitan is the circumcision of boys. It is not mentioned in the Qur'an, but Muslims follow the example of the Prophet and of earlier prophets such as Ibrahim. It is done at different times, from a few days after the birth to later in childhood, depending on the family and country. It is seen as a sign of belonging to the Muslim community and of cleanliness.
Marriage is the sunnah of the Prophet and the way to build a family. You have already learned that the nikah is the Muslim marriage contract and that the mahr is a gift from the husband to the wife. Here we look at how the ceremony happens.
The nikah is often held in a mosque or at home. An imam usually leads it because he knows the right words, but this is not required. Any knowledgeable person may do it, as long as the conditions are met. In the UK, a nikah is only legally recognised if it takes place in a building registered for marriage and is properly registered, so many couples also have a civil ceremony.
After the marriage, the groom's family holds the walimah, a wedding feast. Hadith encourage it, and it lets the whole community celebrate and know that the couple are now married. The poor should also be invited.
Wedding customs vary a lot between countries and families, and many are culture rather than religion. For example, some South Asian families hold a henna night before the wedding, while dress, food, music and the number of guests differ from place to place. Some families have separate seating for men and women, and others do not. Muslims do not all agree on which customs are religious, but most agree the nikah itself is what makes the marriage.
Muslims see these rites in different ways:
Some Muslims believe the rites follow the Prophet's example and should be kept as closely as possible. The nikah, with free consent, is a religious requirement for a valid marriage. Many scholars see the aqiqah as a strongly recommended sunnah, though some see it as only permitted and a few as compulsory. Many see khitan as a duty, while some see it as recommended only.
Others stress that the core of the rite matters, not the extras. They say large feasts, expensive clothes or certain customs are culture, and should not become a burden. Some feel the money would be better spent on charity. Some families skip parts of the aqiqah, and in some countries the naming happens at a different time.
Sunni and Shi'a Muslims both welcome a baby with the adhan and both hold a nikah, but details differ. For example, Sunni schools require witnesses at the nikah while Shi'a scholars do not, and Sunni schools disagree about whether the aqiqah is a sunnah or only permitted. Customs also differ between communities.
(a) Outline two rituals that take place after the birth of a Muslim child. [4 marks]
(b) Explain why the nikah is important for Muslims. [6 marks]
(c) "The nikah is more important than the walimah." Discuss this statement, considering the arguments for and against. In your answer you should include: reference to teachings; other (divergent) points of view; your opinion/point of view using reasoned arguments. [10 marks]
(a) One ritual is the adhan (1), whispered into the baby's right ear so that the first words the child hears are about Allah (1). Another is the aqiqah on the seventh day (1), when the baby is named, the head is shaved with the weight of the hair given to charity, and an animal is sacrificed and shared with the poor (1).
(b) The nikah is the contract that makes a marriage valid in Islam (1). It needs the consent of both partners, which shows marriage is a free choice (1). Making the marriage public, with witnesses in the Sunni view, protects the couple and the community (1). It includes the mahr, which gives the wife security and respect (1). Marriage is the sunnah of the Prophet, so Muslims follow his example when they marry (1). The sermon and prayers ask Allah's blessing, which links the family to the faith (1).
(c) Plan: Agree: the nikah is the contract that makes the marriage valid, with consent and the mahr; Qur'an 4:4 teaches the mahr as a gift; without it there is no marriage, however big the feast. Some Muslims also say too much focus on feasts and customs is culture. Disagree: the walimah is encouraged by hadith, celebrates the marriage publicly and includes the poor; it makes the marriage known to the community, so the two work together; some Muslims treat the walimah as an important sunnah and a duty to the community, and attitudes differ between communities. Possible conclusion: the nikah is more important because it is what makes the marriage, but the walimah has a real purpose in sharing the joy, so a simple walimah alongside the nikah is best.
For a 4-mark "outline" question, give two separate rituals and add one detail to each. Do not repeat the same point, and do not just name the ritual without saying what happens.