The manner in which nikahs used to take place in the mubaarak era of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)

Hazrat Shaikh Moulana Muhammad Zakariyya (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) once mentioned:

‘Ulama have written that there are two such ‘ibaadat which commenced with Hadhrat Aadam (‘alaihis salaam) and will continue till Qiyaamat. In fact, it will remain in Jannat as well. The first is Imaan and the second is nikaah. However, when we brought in unnecessary and futile practices into our weddings then we have transformed this blessed sunnat into a calamity. The love that the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) had for Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is evident and well-known to all. Hadhrat Abdur Rahmaan bin ‘Auf (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was a well-known Sahaabi. He was amongst the ‘asharah mubasharah’ and one of the most dedicated Sahaabah of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Despite this honour to his name, let alone inviting Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), he did not even inform Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) of his nikaah (due to nikah being regarded as a simple affair).

How sad is it that we have complicated this blessed sunnat with our customs and unfounded practices. In some places the wedding procession leaves at the time of salaah whereby the bridegroom, bride and the entire procession fail to perform their salaah with jamaat or, even worse, miss out their salaah completely. May Allah Ta‘ala reform our ways and bless us with true guidance. (Malfoozaate Hazrat Shaikh 1/93)