KHITBAH - Engagement Ceremony in Muslim Marriage

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A Muslim Wedding is governed by the Hadith and Qur'an which addresses the structure of family in Islam. All the procedure is codified as per rules. The engagement ceremony called Khitbah in the Muslim Weddigs is as follows.

Khitbah: The Engagement

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When the groom and bride and including the bride’s legal guardian known as Wali, agree on the marriage, then a khitbah or engagement can be held. This is a promise on both sides to agree on the marriage. After the proposal has been accepted, no one can subsequently propose to the girl. It’s important to note that the khitbah (engagement) period still does not allow the engaged couple to speak to each other without necessity, whether in person, online, or via text as it is a mark of her freedom, as she will be in contract of marriage very soon and till then she is at her free will. It also does not allow any type of physical touching, or for the couple to be in seclusion. The specific practices in Islamic sharee’ah are not given which need to be followed in relation to the engagement ceremony. The in principle permissible practices could be declaring the engagement, celebrate a party and distribution of gifts are followed by Muslims.

Iddah

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A Muslim man cannot request a woman to be his Muslim bride who is wedded to another man by divorcing that man. A Muslim man cannot present a proposal to any woman who is engaged, without her first fiancé withdrawing his proposal and permitting him. If the woman is in her `Iddah which is the period that follows divorce, then the marriage contract will not be enforced. The period of Iddah is three months or three menstruation periods. In case the woman is pregnant, then the period will be till she gives birth. The period will be four months and ten days when woman is widow. It is one menstruation period or one month for ‘Al-Khul.’ The ‘Iddah’ is not needed to follow if a man marries a bride and divorces her without having intercourse with her.

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