The Alevi Marriage Rite (Nikâh) and the Marriage Prayer

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The Alevi marriage rite (nikâh erkânı)

The dede or the hoca comes to the house where the marriage is to take place. The young woman’s mother and father and the young man’s mother and father also come. Apart from them, a congregation (cemaat) must be present so that at least two people can act as witnesses for the bride and two for the groom. There is no objection to the congregation being large; it may be even larger. In our time the civil marriage is compulsory. Dedes and hocas must pay attention to this. On the basis of the religious marriage alone, the partners cannot claim any rights against each other. In my view it would be very good if care were taken not to perform the religious marriage straight away for those who have not had a civil marriage. For the religious marriage is only a spiritual bond; it has no legal validity.

The bride and groom are brought before the assembly. In front of the dede they kneel side by side on both knees, the bride on the groom’s left. The groom’s witnesses take their places on the groom’s right, the bride’s witnesses on the bride’s left. The mothers and fathers form a second row behind the young people who are about to marry. All of them sit kneeling in a respectful posture (diz üstü kıyam). The dede writes down the names of the young couple, the parents and the witnesses. He explains to the young couple their marital responsibilities for as long as they live together and the sanctity of the home. After that he begins to perform the marriage.

Conducting the marriage rite

The dede or hoca says “Bismillahi’Rahmani’r-Rahim. Bismi Şah Allah, Allah” (In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. In the name of the Shah [Ali], Allah, Allah) and then continues in the following order. The dede recites the verses of the Holy Qur’an concerning marriage:

Surat an-Naba (Nebe), verse 8: “O believers! We have created human beings in pairs, male and female.” Surat ar-Rum (Rum), verse 21: “We created human beings from earth and gave them reason and consciousness. We raised them above all created beings. We gave you spouses with whom you find peace during your life and through whom you continue your line. That affection and love arise between you is a proof of the existence of God.”

Surat al-Baqarah (Bakara), verse 223: “O believers! Your wives are those who raise children for you. Do not treat them wrongly. Do not put God out of your mind. Know that in the end you will be called to account before God.”

Surat al-Isra (Esra), verse 32: “O believers! Never break the word (the ikrar, the vow) you have given one another. Do not approach adultery, for that path is indecency and forbidden (haram).”

After reciting the Qur’anic verses and making known the commands of God (Hak), the dede pronounces a besmele (the formula “In the name of God”) and addresses the couple as follows: “My children! We are here to perform your marriage by the command of God, according to the word of the Prophet, in accordance with the jurisprudence (içtihat) of Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (Cafer-i Sadık) and with the blessing (himmet) of Hacı Bektaş Veli. You are now before the divine court (Hak divanı), in the square of wisdom (irfan meydanı). According to our path and our erkân, no one – not even your mothers and fathers – may put pressure on you. According to our path they would be committing an offence. Since it is you who will live together until death, it is also you who will decide. In the Alevi faith divorce is an offence; in our path and our erkân it is an evil act. May God not break up anyone’s home. Now think very carefully. Answer the questions I ask you truthfully, without being under any pressure or influence.

My daughter! By the command of God, according to the word of the Prophet, in accordance with the jurisprudence of Imam Jafar al-Sadiq, with earth and heaven as witnesses and with the testimony of the congregation present. Without being under any pressure or influence. Of your own wish and will, do you accept …..?….., son of …..?….., on the condition that you will share and help with all his troubles in his days of health and his days of sickness, in days of hardship and in days of plenty, as your husband for life?” The young woman or the young man answers, “Yes, I accept.” This question is put to each of them three times. If the answer is yes each time, the dede also asks the witnesses one by one whether there is any impediment to their marriage. After receiving a positive answer from the witnesses as well, he says: “My children, this is the command of God. May God make you blessed and good for one another.” After the congregation present has said “Allah, Allah”, the dede recites the marriage prayer.

The marriage prayer (nikâh duası)

“Allahumme salli ala seyidine Muhammed ve ala Ali seyidine Muhammed! Hak lâ ilâhe illâllah, Hak birsin Muhammed’in Resulullah, Ali ’yün Veli–yullah, Ehli Beyti Keremullah, şefaat kıl ya Resulullah! Bismi Şah Allah, Allah!

“O God, bless our master Muhammad and the family of our master Muhammad! God (Hak) – there is no god but God; God, You are One, Muhammad is the Messenger of God, Ali is the friend (veli) of God, the Ehl-i Beyt is the grace of God; O Messenger of God, intercede for us! In the name of the Shah, Allah, Allah!

O exalted God, who gives order to this universe! For the sake of the honour of Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa and Ali al-Murtaza, make this marriage contract, this union, lasting and firm throughout their lives, O my Lord! Bless this marriage that we have performed, O my Lord! For the sake of the honour of Adam, the chosen one of God (Âdem-i Safiyullah), Noah, the one saved by God (Nuh-u Naciyullah), Abraham, the friend of God (İbrahim-i Halilullah), Ishmael, the one submitted to God (İsmail-i Teslimullah), Moses, who spoke with God (Musa-yı Kelâmullah), Jesus, the spirit of God (İsa-yı Ruhullah), Muhammad, the beloved of God (Muhammed-i Habibullah), Ali, the friend of God (Ali-yel Veliyullah), the Ehl-i Beyt, the grace of God (Ehli Beyt-i Keremullah), and the perfect mürşid of God (Mürşid-i Kâmilullah), increase the love and respect between them and make their happiness lasting, O my Lord! Do not withhold from them the beneficent blessing of the Three, the Five, the Seven, the Twelve Imams, the Fourteen Pure Innocents (14 Masum-u Pak), the Seventeen Kemerbest (the seventeen “girded ones”) and the Forty! Give health to their bodies! Make their livelihood abundant! Do not make them dependent on the noble or the ignoble, O my Lord! For the sake of the honour of the erenler (those who have attained the truth) and the saints, grant them children who will be a blessing to their mother, their father and the whole of humanity, O exalted God!

For the sake of the honour of the sultan of the seyyids, our pir Hünkâr Hacı Bektaş Veli, protect them from the evil of the unjust, from the tongue of the base, from visible and invisible misfortune, from calamity, from fire and from disaster, O my Lord!

O exalted God! For the sake of the honour of the martyr of martyrs, accept these prayers of ours at Your glorious threshold (dergâh-ı izzet)! Do not let our efforts be in vain! Let all the believing, Muslim souls (canlar) in this congregation who have joined in our prayer be admitted to the ranks of the Ehl-i Beyt and behold their countenance! Do not deprive us of the intercession of Hazrat Muhammad, O my Lord! O exalted God! Grant these young people who are marrying a lifetime of living together in happiness! May your marriage be blessed, may Hak, Muhammad and Ali be your helpers! Gerçeğe Hüü! (To the Truth – Hu!)”

“Bismillahi’Rahmani’r-Rahim. Rabbena Atina fid dünya, hasaneten ve fil-ahireti hasane ve kınâ azâben-nâr bi-rahmetike Ya errahmanir-Rahiym. El-Fatiha:

“In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire – by Your mercy, O Most Merciful of the merciful. The Fatiha (the opening sura):

“Bismillahi’Rahmanu’r-Rahim: Elhamdülüllahi Rabbil alemin. Errahmanurrahim. Maliki yevmeddin, iyyake nabudu ve iyyake neste in. İhtinas sıratel mustakim. Sıratellezsine. En amte aleyhim ğayrıl mağdubi, Aleyhim veladdallin. Amin!”

“In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to God, Lord of the worlds, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgement. You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help. Guide us on the straight path, the path of those on whom You have bestowed Your grace, not of those who have earned Your anger, nor of those who go astray. Amen!”

The dede says, “May your marriage be blessed.” The young couple stand up and first kiss the hand of the dede who performed the marriage. Then they kiss the hands of their mothers and fathers and of the elders of the congregation present. They shake hands with the younger ones. Everyone who greets them says, “Congratulations, may it be blessed.” After that the wedding sherbet (a sweet drink) or sweets are handed out. With this the marriage ceremony comes to an end.

Source: Seyit Derviş Tur, Erkânname – Aleviliğin İslam Yorumu ve Alevi Erkânları (The Islamic Interpretation of Alevism and the Alevi Rites), expanded 3rd edition (ISBN 975-6791-52-7).

Translated from the Turkish original by Seyit Derviş Tur.