Islamic Social Practices

After the legal proceedings of the marriage ceremony, festivities to celebrate the occasion are common, but vary among regions and cultures. Music, dancing, and Qur"anic recitations usually take place in separate venues for men and women. To conclude the festivities, the bride and groom are eventually bid farewell by their respective groups and join together in their first coupling. Denny makes mention of the practice of displaying a bloodied sheet as proof of a woman's virginity and a man's potency. Another important aspect of Islamic marriages is the bridal gift, know as the mahr. This gift can vary in form and value and is presented to the bride from the groom at the signing of the marriage contract. Islamic law dictates exactly how this gift is to be handled, including what should be done in the case of divorce. After a man and a woman have married, the roles assumed by each person are defined very clearly. The husband is responsible for the wife's maintenance and is to bear the financial responsibility of the family in a generous way so that his wife may be assured security and thus perform her role devotedly. The wife is to contribute to the success and blissfulness of the marriage. She must be attentive to the comfort and wellbeing of her husband and must cover her body and reveal herself only to him. Overall, the purpose of marriage is that two people can provide company to one another, love to one another, procreate children and live in peace and tranquility to the commandments of God. Practices such as adultery and homosexuality are strictly prohibited in Islamic societies. .
             Death Rituals.
             When an Islamic person nears the end of his or her life, several practices are recommended. First, it is necessary to situate the body so that it faces Mecca. Second, someone is the recite sura Ya Sin which deals with matters of death and resurrection. After one has died, the washing of the corpse is extremely important; the method, the style and the accessories used for bathing the corpse may vary from time to time and from place to place.