Page:Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje - The Achehnese - tr. Arthur Warren Swete O'Sullivan (1906).djvu/373

 Where it does not take place beforehand and the ceremony is made part of the wedding itself, the contract is concluded in the front verandah (sramòë reunyeun) before the bridegroom is invited into the juròë.

When the wali by relationship is available, and is both able and willing to lend his help, the teungku of the meunasah manages the affair in exactly the same way as is done by the district pangulu in Java. This is likewise the case when the woman has been married before and has no wali at her disposal. Of such a woman it is popularly said: "she has the right to be her own wali" ; and though this saying is not legally exact, it expresses clearly enough for all intents and purposes the fact that she has the right to join with her intended husband in appointing a ḥakam. The latter should in this case properly possess the qualifications required of a qādhī, for there are regularly appointed qādhīs in Acheh. As however the qualifications for the office of qādhī are not very narrowly scrutinized in Acheh, it follows as a matter of course that much latitude is allowed to the woman's subsidiary wali appointed by taḥkim. While however, the theory of religious law leaves the choice of this hakam entirely free, the Achehnese adat limits it strictly to the teungku. Amateur marriage-makers such as are commonly found at Batavia would be heavily fined by the ulèëbalang in Acheh.

Where a virgin has no wali by relationship at her disposal, she must not be married by the teungku, but must, as we shall see directly, go to the kali. Let us however first give a closer description of the two sorts of contracts which are concluded by the teungku.

Before the bridegroom enters the meunasah, the wali of the maiden or woman who is to be given in marriage appoints the teungku his attorney in some such words as these: "I appoint you, oh Teungku, to be my wakil, to give my daughter (or sister etc.) in marriage to the bridegroom, who will (immediately) come hither". The answer is "incha alah", i.e. "If it so please God!"