marriage rites

Dear Sheikh, As-Salamu `alaykum. I want to ask about the household stuff list (Al-Qa'imah) we make in Egypt before marriage, but I don't know what is the fair things to write. The situation is: the groom contributes in preparing a marital house, say, for instance, he chooses to furnish two rooms and provide other things, (carpets, for example), while the bride provides two rooms and other things (electric equipments, kitchen, etc). What is the Islamic ruling on this? Thanks in advance.

I have observed that the entourage during wedding ceremonies—like bridesmaids, groomsmen, ring bearer, maid of honor, coin bearer, best man and the like—is a common practice among Muslims in the Philippines. It includes dancing and singing during the walimah (wedding feast). However, I doubt whether these are in accordance with Islamic rites. May I know the typical wedding ceremony in the Islamic perspective?

Respected scholars, As-Salamu `alaykum! Is it allowed for a Muslim woman to conclude her own marriage contract without the presence of her wali (guardian)? Jazakum Allah khayran.

Dear scholars, As-salamu `alaykum. I have a friend who came to this country illegally. He has a wife and children back home, but in order to get a green card, he is planning to send a written divorce paper to his wife and then get married on paper only in this country. When he gets his green card, he will divorce his “paper” wife here and resume his relationship with his real wife back home and hopefully be able to bring her here. The question is whether the paper divorce to the wife back home is considered an Islamic divorce? He has no intention to divorce her. Jazakum Allah khayran.

I would like to know what is the concept of mahr in Islam? What should be the mahr for someone living in California, USA? I am getting married soon and my in-laws would like the mahr to be set according to the Shari`ah.

In the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious The Most MercifulDear Respected Scholars,Assalama alay kum.  Before I post my question, Alhamdullilah, its really nice to have you here to enlightened us on the doubts and questions we have as Muslims especially those who are revert to Islam like me. I actually send this query 3 months ago however I didn?t received any response yet.  I was involved to a muslim man before I reverted back to Islam and the same man whom I make a contract with. I mean to make our relationship halal, we make a marriage contract of ourselves, I am actually the one who drafted it, we signed and he let   his friends signed as a witness and he let his friends and those we know that I am his wife, including his family, Is this valid? We did this as of the moment since we cannot yet live together as taking an accommodation here now is very expensive. I read most of your discussions about marriage and really I guess the one we have is null and void. Now I am really confused, he told me that this is fine and Allah knows best our intention, but I insist that we should marry on the Shariah court to make it legal and since no local imam is making a marriage ceremony here in the UAE that is the only option we have to do. I had discussed this to him many times  and we really had a disagreements but he told me that he have asked sheikhs from his country, Egypt and nobody there can tell that this kind of marriage is haram (urfi marriage/temporary marriage) and he told me that the reason why he put it in paper is because he means it. Based on my reading and understanding of marriage in Islam it should be made easy.   Could you please enlighten us on our situation right now?Jazakallahu khayran.

As-Salamu `alaykum. My question is regarding the way a wedding ceremony is performed by Muslims in Malaysia. Usually, the married couple take part in a wedding procession that is called "bersanding" (the bride and groom sit on chairs placed on a platform and then a ceremonial service is performed).A prominent religious figure has pronounced this to be un-Islamic, based on the claim that this kind of wedding ceremony originated in Hindu tradition. A religious teacher informed me that this kind of ceremony is part of the religious rituals of the Hindus, but this is yet to be confirmed. My questions are: 1. What is the effect on the couples' `aqeedah? 2. What is the effect on the `aqeedah of those who participate in the ceremony? 3. What is the effect on the `aqeedah of the people who participate in the photography session with the couple? 4. What is the effect on the `aqeedah of the people who attend the occasion? 5. Could you confirm whether or not this kind of ceremony is part of the religious rituals of the Hindus? 6. What is the best way to avoid attending the ceremony of our close family relatives?

Assalamu Alaikum. I have an intension to marry a girl after three months. Her mother passed away this month on 11/08/2009. Is there any prohibition in Islam to organize a marriage within a certain period after parent?s death?