If I wear a veil, how will I speak from the messenger's pulpit?

If I take a dowry, how can I speak from the Prophet’s pulpit?

Scholars of pure thought still exist today who appear to despise weddings that follow Hindu customs. These gentlemen do not merely place a verbal prohibition on the eradication of futile marriage rituals from the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) pulpit; they also set a practical example, guiding people toward the straight path of the Sunnah and Sharia. Their sayings, actions, deeds, and character convey the nourishing fragrance of love for the Prophet (peace be upon him) with clear and unmistakable clarity.

In today’s turbulent era, when arranging a daughter’s marriage has become the most difficult task and every person is forced to spend four or five hundred thousand rupees on a sister’s or daughter’s engagement and wedding, it is commendable for any religious scholar to reject such a huge sum in order to revive the simple marriage tradition of our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) and to present a practical example before the public. Consider how lofty and noble the thoughts and ideas of such a distinguished personality must be, how deeply he loves his nation, and how he must ache like a fish out of water when he sees the epidemic of Hindu‑style wedding superstitions spreading through society.

Just imagine the excellence of his character, his wisdom, and his insight! He thinks so profoundly and then acts accordingly, showing that we must begin with ourselves to suppress the Hindu‑style wedding customs that have infiltrated our society. Indeed, this is not an easy task, but for the one whom Allah grants success, it is not impossible.

So, friends!! Let us now recount the true story of a religious scholar whose simple marriage, demonstrated by his own practice, set an example.

It was May 2025. I was searching for a match for my daughter. In our family, scholars and Hafiz are given preference, or at least we try to resemble them in appearance. Anyway, my esteemed son Muhammad Saad said, “What is your opinion about Maulana Rehan Ahmed Sahib Qasmi?”

I already knew about the Maulana because he is a student of our respected teacher Qari Abdul Rab Sahib. Consequently, he had attended the gatherings of the ancient scholars and had even served as a teacher at our madrasa for a couple of months. Therefore, I was well acquainted with his habits, morals, speech, behavior, lifestyle, conduct, and daily routines.

He possesses a Sufi‑oriented temperament, loves preaching and da‘wah, respects teachers, delivers sweet and impactful speeches when he stands on the pulpit, recites the Qur’an melodiously when he leads the congregation, and raises his hands for collective supplication, moving everyone to tears. All the noble qualities that a Hafiz of the Qur’an and a scholar should have have been bestowed upon Maulana Rehan Ahmed Sahib by Allah Almighty. These religious and scholarly virtues made my humble heart proclaim that this match was suitable.

Then the question arose: how to proceed? So we brought Qari Abdul Rab Sahib into the discussion and began negotiations. The Maulana’s respected father is also a man of good character, devout, dignified, ethical, serious, honorable, with the Sunnah evident on his face, clothed in the garment of Allah’s servants, and possessing a dervish‑like personality. When we spoke to him, he said that since Qari Sahib had arrived, we may consider it confirmed from our side.

I replied that the girl should be seen by you all once. The date was set, but they imposed one condition: no arrangements for food. We agreed.

First, I consulted my uncle, Maulana Muhammad Naseem Sahib Qasmi (may his blessings endure), the Imam and teacher of Darul‑Uloom Qasmiya, who is my greatest well‑wisher in Mumbai and whom I regard as a father figure. He said it was very good.

Meanwhile, Maulana Rehan Sahib consulted his spiritual guide, Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Yahya Sahib Nakshbandi (may his blessings endure). We had no prior acquaintance with the Hazrat, but at that moment he told him: “The people of the village are good; go ahead with the match.”

Just as the spiritual master, the guide of the Sharia, and the follower of the Sunnah appear devoted, Allah has bestowed upon you an unparalleled essence of extensive knowledge and practice, wisdom and insight, the ability to untangle complex knots, and to reach the depth of counsel and give satisfying advice. May Allah grant you a long life.

In any case, the opinions and advice from both sides concluded that the match would be appropriate. The matter reached this point, yet I had not yet seen the Maulana’s house, nor did I feel the need to, because I knew that the wife and children of a religious scholar, praise be to Allah, lead a peaceful life.

The process of seeing the girl was still pending. On the appointed date, the Maulana’s parents arrived, and his mother placed a rupee in my daughter’s hand. This sign, in our culture, means that the match is accepted. We also offered sweets, though the expense was negligible.

Subsequently, on 23 April 2025, a splendid wedding ceremony was held at the Hazrat’s khanqah. The Hazrat himself performed the marriage ceremony. He also arranged tea and breakfast for the guests.

The truth is that my daughter received such an excellent match and was married with such simplicity. Many well‑wishers’ prayers were part of it, but …