Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 9, 1898.djvu/170

146 Mussulman? and if so, let me hear you repeat the 'Kalmah,' or creed, and other rules and prayers which a true Mohammedan ought to know."

The bridegroom then replies to the first question in the words: "Shukur, Allah, thanks be to Allah," and to the next "La Illaha illilla Mahomed ur Rossool ullah," which is to say, "Allah is the only deity, and Mohammed is his prophet." This affirmation all Mohammedans are acquainted with; but as the rules and prayers are not so generally known, they are said by the priest, and the bridegroom repeats them after him word for word. The priest then turns to the father or near relative of the bride, and asks if he is willing on his part to give his daughter in marriage to the youth now present. To this he replies in the affirmative, and adds that "you, as conducting the service, may now proceed with the 'Nikah. The priest then addresses the bridegroom by name, and giving the name of the bride, her father's name, and that also of her grandfather, he solemnly asks him if he is willing to marry her according to the rites of the Mohammedan faith, to which he replies: "I am so willing." The next step is for the priest to ask what arrangements have been made about the marriage portion, or "Huk Mâhur." This has to be definitely stated at the time, in the presence of witnesses; for it is an understood thing, that should the man ever divorce his wife, he must return to her the sum fixed as her dowry, and if she should wish, on her part, to get quit of him, and find that he is only waiting for time to put together the amount of her dowry, which by law he has to make good to her, she will say: "I will present, or 'buksho,' that to you, and give you a written document to that effect." The dowry is generally fixed so high that it becomes almost prohibitory on the husband's part to collect such a sum; and hence a divorce rarely takes place. These important civil and religious rites being over, the Kazi offers the customary prayers at the solemnization of marriage, and at the conclusion of these,