Over the last few years I attended a number of my Muslim colleagues marriage ceremonies at the mosque. Every time I participate in this lovely occasion I get the impression that Islamic weddings have become closer, at least in form, to the wedding ceremonies of Christians. In the past, Muslims used to celebrate weddings at home or in clubs, but now there are some big halls attached to mosques that are always occupied by successive weddings, especially on Thursdays and Fridays. Last week I attended a friend's wedding at the mosque, where my first impressions about such ceremonies turned into convictions. Now, there is an Egyptian culture signifying the common religious rituals of all Egyptians. The marriage ceremonies on both sides have tilted towards similarity. Christians have to book a church a few months in advance to be allowed one hour for the ceremony. Muslims now have to do the same. When you enter the mosque s gate, particularly one of the famous ones, you will find a timetable of the weddings scheduled for each day. Each couple on the long list is given only one hour. At the church, the bride and groom sit on two prominent seats on the Eastern part of the church, surrounded by flowers and candles. At the mosque s banquet hall, there is also a specific space for bride and groom, also decorated with flowers and candles. As the couple enters the church, they are greeted with a lovely hymn about God, called The King of Peace . At the mosque the couple enters the hall at the recitation of the 99 attributes of Allah. In the Christian wedding ceremony, analytically speaking, each couple goes through a religious process made up of three parts: the declaration, the blessings and the prayers. The priest has to announce the first names of the couple, and their desire to unite in Jesus Christ. Then, he blesses them and calls on attendees to pray to God to make both the groom and the bride happy and faithful. At the mosque, I encountered the same three parts but in using different terminology. The maa'zoun who conducts the marriage ceremony, declares first names of the couple and announces their unity in Islam, then asks the attendees to pray to God to fill their lives with goodness and prosperity. After the marriage ceremony, whether at the mosque or the church, the married couple stand in an open air area to receive congratulations and get photographed with family and friends. Chocolates and sweets are given out to the guests. Culturally we sometimes think that Muslims and Christians have become distant. However, a deeper looking into their daily life practices shows the many similarities, although they are unable to explore and sustain this closeness. Unfortunately fanatics on both sides preach a culture of hatred through making divisive lines between Christians and Muslims. Those who call on Muslims not to attend wedding ceremony inside a church are mistaken. Luckily most don t listen to them but prefer to follow cultural practices that are consistent with their own understanding of religion. When I shared my observation about the marriage ceremonies with an Islamist friend, he admitted the similarity, but tried to convince me that what is going on is not new, only a manifestation of a pure return to the real Islamic teachings. I continue to believe that Egyptians differ in religion but unite in culture. I love to look at issues from a cultural perspective. So despite the clear social disintegration, this makes me feel that I am still living in a united society. Sameh Fawzy is an Egyptian journalist, PhD researcher, and specialist on governance and citizenship.
