Authored by: al-Shaykh Mubashshir Ahmad Rabbani (may Allah preserve him)
The modern practice of taking a “barāt” (wedding procession) is not established in Islamic teachings and should be avoided. Neither in the time of the Prophet ﷺ nor during the rule of the Rightly Guided Caliphs (Khulafāʾ Rāshidūn) is there any evidence of such a tradition.
"The Prophet ﷺ saw traces of saffron on ʿAbd al-Raḥmān and asked about it. He replied that he had married a woman for the weight of a gold nugget. The Prophet ﷺ said: 'May Allah bless you, give a walīmah, even if it is with just one sheep.'"
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Book of Marriage, 1427]
This shows that the Prophet ﷺ only learned about the marriage after it had already occurred, and no barāt was ever organized.
"Perhaps you’ve come to propose for Fāṭimah?"
ʿAlī replied, "Yes."
The Prophet ﷺ asked about the mahr (dowry). ʿAlī had nothing except a suit of armor, which the Prophet ﷺ accepted as her mahr.
There was no barāt, no extravagant customs, no unnecessary formalities—just a simple and blessed nikāḥ.
(References: Dalāʾil al-Nubuwwah of al-Bayhaqī 3/160, al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah 3/302, Usd al-Ghābah 8/215-216)
✦ Question: Is the practice of taking a wedding procession (Barāt) with the groom supported by any ḥadīth? ✦
Answer:The modern practice of taking a “barāt” (wedding procession) is not established in Islamic teachings and should be avoided. Neither in the time of the Prophet ﷺ nor during the rule of the Rightly Guided Caliphs (Khulafāʾ Rāshidūn) is there any evidence of such a tradition.
✦ What the Sunnah Says ✦
All that is needed for a valid Islamic marriage is:- The groom
- Two witnesses
- The guardian (walī) of the bride
✦ Example from the Marriage of ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿAwf (رضي الله عنه) ✦
Anas (رضي الله عنه) reports:"The Prophet ﷺ saw traces of saffron on ʿAbd al-Raḥmān and asked about it. He replied that he had married a woman for the weight of a gold nugget. The Prophet ﷺ said: 'May Allah bless you, give a walīmah, even if it is with just one sheep.'"
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Book of Marriage, 1427]
This shows that the Prophet ﷺ only learned about the marriage after it had already occurred, and no barāt was ever organized.
✦ The Nikāḥ of ʿAlī and Fāṭimah (رضي الله عنهما) – A Model Marriage ✦
ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه) approached the Prophet ﷺ alone to propose for Fāṭimah (رضي الله عنها). Out of shyness, he could hardly speak. The Prophet ﷺ understood and asked:"Perhaps you’ve come to propose for Fāṭimah?"
ʿAlī replied, "Yes."
The Prophet ﷺ asked about the mahr (dowry). ʿAlī had nothing except a suit of armor, which the Prophet ﷺ accepted as her mahr.
There was no barāt, no extravagant customs, no unnecessary formalities—just a simple and blessed nikāḥ.
(References: Dalāʾil al-Nubuwwah of al-Bayhaqī 3/160, al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah 3/302, Usd al-Ghābah 8/215-216)
✦ Conclusion ✦
This is the ideal Islamic model:- The groom sends a proposal.
- Upon acceptance, nikāḥ is performed without waiting for customs or traditions.
- Only a walīmah is Sunnah after the marriage—not a barāt.
