A marriage is officially recognised during the ‘akad nikah’ ceremony (solemnisation), which is held on the eve of the wedding at the bride’s home. The ceremony is conducted by a ‘kadhi’ or a religious official of the ‘Syariah‘ Court (institution which administers cases in line with Islamic law). The groom is expected to present gifts to the bride at the ceremony, which will be displayed in the bridal chamber as shown in the photo.
