CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

According to Sherif Mohammed, Islam is a strong advocate of marriage. There are no religious clerical appointments where one must be celibate like for example a priest or nun. The prophet Muhammad (pbuh said !There is no celibac" in Islam.! The prophet has also said, !Marriage is m" tradition whosoever keeps awa" from it is not from amongst us!. In Islam, marriage (nikkah is not onl" looked at as an important safeguard for chastit" but also as a social necessit". #ver" adult Muslim who is otherwise emotionall" unfit, ph"sicall" incapable and financiall" unable to lead marital life is urged to marr" and raise a famil" ($arra, %&'' . (urthermore, it is viewed as in Islam as neither a light responsibilit" nor an ordinar" commitment. Similarl", it is neither a dissoluble sacrament nor ordinar" contract. According to Abd al)Ati (%&** , it is both a social and divine institution ordained b" the +awgiver. ,nder the -ode of Muslim .ersonal +aws or otherwise known as /A 0o. %123, marriage is not onl" a civil contract but also a social institution. It is a social institution in the sense that it legali4es the sexual or marital relationship between man and woman who are parties thereof. It also established the paternit" of their children and creates corresponding rights and obligations between the spouses ($arra, %&'' . In a practical aspect, Islamic marriage is thus structured through legall")enforceable rights and duties of both parties. In an atmosphere of love and respect, these rights and duties provide a framework for the balance of famil" life and the fulfillment of both partners (5uda . Muslim marriages are carried out in different wa"s as to the culture the" are accustomed to. Thus, this paper aims to provide information and a better understanding

on the establishment of marital bond among Maranaos. It talks about the Maranaos6 concept of marriage.

1. State!ent of the Pro"#e! This is a descriptive stud" on marriage among Maranaos. It seeks to prove data for clearer understanding of the establishment of marital bond among Maranaos. Specificall", this paper aims to answer the 7uestions8 %. 9hat is the concept of Maranao of marriage: 2. 9hat are the essential re7uisites of marriage among Maranaos: 3. 9hat are marriage rituals of Maranaos: ;. 5ow marriage ceremon" among Maranaos conducted:

1.$ S%gn%f%cance of the Study

Islam is a strong advocate of marriage. There are no religious clerical appointments where one must be celibate like for example a priest or nun. The prophet Muhammad (pbuh said !There is no celibac" in Islam.! The prophet has also said, !Marriage is m" tradition whosoever keeps awa" from it is not from amongst us!. This paper signifies to give a view of the establishment of marital bond among Maranaos. It seeks to understand how marriage among Maranaos is being instituted. It also aims to explain the concept of Maranaos of marriage. And it will be presenting data about the marriage rituals of Maranaos and how marriage ceremon" in Maranaos conducted.

This paper can serve as a guide for students who are aiming to conduct a stud" about marriage among Maranaos.

1.& Sco'e and (%!%tat%on of the Study

This paper discusses the establishment of marital bond among Maranaos.Its scope will be dealing mainl" on the said concept. Southern .hilippines is compose of various ethnic groups. Maranao tribe in +anao provinces is one the ethnic groups which have uni7ue culture. The term !Maranao! means !people of the lake.! Maranaos are proud of their cultural heritage and values. The" are known for their distinctive traditions and practices. This stud" will be limited on the data gathered b" the researcher about marriage among Maranaos.

1.) O'erat%ona# Def%n%t%on of Ter!* Marh. A gift from the groom to the bride at the time of marriage in Islam. <ften translated as !dowr",! a term which is misleading as the mahr remains the propert" of the bride after marriage. The mahr is meant to offer the bride financial securit" within and after the marriage. Nikah. The legal contract between a bride and groom as part of an Islamic marriage= the contract of Islamic marriage= Islamic marriage in general. Walima. A public wedding part" or reception which takes place after the marriage contract (nikah is signed. It comes from the Arabic word walam, which means gather people together.

CHAPTER +INDIN,S This chapter will present and discuss the data gathered b" the researcher. These data will be mainl" about establishment of marital bond among Maranaos and other related topics. .1 The Conce't of -aranao of -arr%age

Muslim marriages are taken out in different wa"s as to the culture the" are getting used to. In the Maranao societ", according to Tamano (211& , marriages are usuall" arranged. It means a person6s famil" decides whom he or she marries. The" are paired off for reasons that involve politics, social status, or friendship. Sometimes, it is to bring distant relatives closer so as not to taint the famil" blood with a foreign one. This has been a tradition that goes "ears back and practiced b" man" Maranao families. Maranaos ma" find it hard to forget this tradition for it is a part of their culture but latel", some parents seek their children6s approval first before the" are paired off. The" also make sure their sons)in)law can financiall" and emotionall" support their daughters full" well. In addition, Maranao women cannot marr" outside of their faith. Maranao men however, can do so as long as their children are raised as Muslims (Tamano . 211& . -onse7uentl", Maranaos, according to Tamano (211& , believes that marriage is a moral safeguard as well as a social building block. Through marriage, families are established and the famil" is considered to be the fundamental unit of our societ". (urthermore, marriage is the onl" valid wa" to indulge in intimac" between a man and a woman. . The E**ent%a# Re/u%*%te* of -arr%age a!ong -aranao* The same wa" with the marriages of non)Maranaos, contracting parties among Maranao marriages must met the essential re7uites for such marriage be valid. The 4

-ode of Muslim .ersonal +aws of the .hilippines enumerates four essential re7uisites, namel"8 a legal capacit" of the contracting parties= b mutual consent of the parties of freel" given= c offer (ijab and acceptance (qabul dul" witnessed b" at least two competent persons after the proper guardian in marriage ( wali has given his consent= and d stipulation of customar" dower (mahr dul" witnessed b" two competent persons. /egarding the capacit" to enter into a marriage contract, the -ode provides that an" Muslim male at least fifteen "ears of age and an" Muslim female of the age of pubert" or upwards and not suffering from an" impediment under the -ode are eligible to contract marriage. ,pon petition of a Wali, the Shariah >istrict -ourt ma" order the solemni4ation of the marriage of a female who, though less than %? but not below %2 "ears old, has attained pubert". ,nder the Islamic law, a marriage among Muslim shall not be recogni4e and shall not be registered under the law unless both parties to the marriage have given their consent thereto. The -ode provides that a marriage through a Wali b" a minor below the prescribed ages shall be regarded as betrothal and ma" be annulled upon petition of either part" within four "ears after attaining the age of pubert", provided no voluntar" cohabitation has taken place and the Wali who contracted the marriage was other than the father or paternal grandfather. +ikewise, marriage among Maranaos is constituted b" an offer or ijab and an acceptance or qabul. The ijab must be expressed in clear and understandable terms and the qabul must also be made in evident and comprehensive words. (urthermore, the offer and acceptance must be done in the presence of two competent witnesses ($arra, %&'' . The -ode stipulates that the contracting parties ma" fix the amount or value of the dower (mahr musamma before, during or after the celebration of the marriage. If the amount thereof has not been fixed, a proper dower ( mahr mithl shall, upon petition of the wife, be determined b" the court according to the social standing of the parties. The dower, according to $arra (%&'' , ma" be paid full" or partiall" before, during or after the marriage according to the agreement of the parties. The propert" or estate of 5

the husband shall be liable for unpaid dower, or an" part thereof. There is no limit to the minimum or maximum in the pa"ment of mahr. An"thing that comes within the meaning of mal (propert" can be offered as mahr.

.$ -arr%age R%tua#* of -aranao* There are certain marriage rituals among Maranaos. These rituals are full" observed and practiced b" them. Along with this, rituals are the following8 a) Kapangilay-lay The bo" will reveal to his parents the desire of getting married. If he was in relation with a Maranao girl he will tell it to his parents. If the famil" of the bo" is finicall" read" for the formal relation, the" will visit the famil" of the girl. This for them to get familiari4e with girl. Man" angles have to be considered in this wa". The" will @udge on the wa" the girl entertained visitors and the financial status of the girl. Sometimes, if the girl is aware of this visit, she will not personall" meet the parents of the bo". This is advantageous than giving an inch for comments about the beaut" of the girl (Sangalang, 211? . This visit, according to Sangalang (211? , did not seal the formalit" of the relationships. After this visit, the parents will discuss on the possibilit" of the formal proposal. The formal proposal will be base on the capacit" of the girl. The dowr" is the ma@or factor that is wh" the" will weigh on lowest possible amount to propose. The famil" will start to find a possible mediator. b) Kapanoksam After a bo" passed a ma@or task in courting the girl, the parents will be read" for a formal proposal. According to Sangalang (211? finding for a possible mediator is the ke". Sometimes if a mediator is not intelligent in 6

handling the proposal, it will cause the two parties for a serious break)up. Sangalang (211? added that to find a perfect mediator, the famil" of the bo" will for an influential and closel" related to both of them. 5e must be a >atu or a $ae, or an" person from a well)known famil" with financial capacit", able and willing for the said purpose. The importance of a perfect mediator pla" an important role in the propose marriage. It is this person who will carr" the voice of both families. To arrive at health" negotiation, the mediator will come to the famil" of the girl for preliminar" talks. This is to clear the negotiation possible. c) Kapamaton sa Tamok According to Sangalang (211? Akapamaton sa tamokB means the presentation of the dowr". Mostl", the affair is formal. <ther did not bother for the formalit", especiall" if the amount seems incomplete. If it is incomplete, the mediator will @ust bring the said amount to the famil" of the girl. In this manner, the bride6s famil" can have preliminar" expenses for the purpose. The basic needs will include bridal dress and expenses for invitations. <thers will be for decoration and mobili4ation of the incoming affair. The relations of the two have been tied)up, so that the bo" can even sleep to the house of the girl. This will be time that the two families will schedule the wedding. d) Kambityara / Kakahawing As ever"thing has been settled, the two families will schedule the wedding. In the wedding ceremon" there will be a program, thus providing the two famil" e7ual parts. As to speeches, it re7uires the two to have e7ual representatives. Speakers will have a minimum of four speakers (Sangalang, 211? .

e) Lantong According to Sangalang (211? , lantong in its lateral meaning is the Agate passB to be secured b" the groom before entering the -eremonial /ites. It is an amount of mone" provided b" the groom to unmarried male relatives of the bride. This will serve as a pa" for missing this bride. The groom will have a total control of the bride hence the" will demand an amount to compensate their rights being taken b" the groom. f Leka sa Gibon It is the same with +antong but this is to the unmarried female relatives of the bride. The" will guard the room strictl". As the groom and his escorts knocked on the door, the speaker of the ladies will publicl" expresses their demand. The amount demanded, according to Sangalang (211? , is e7uals to the demand of the bo"s in +antong. The attendance inside is participated b" both the mother and the father side of the bride. It is anticipated that before the said affair, prior arrangement for the relatives of the groom who are willing to share an amount is done. This well)organi4ed affair will make the ceremon" more interesting. 9e can observe these relatives willing to blow)off their pockets @ust to make the ceremon" successful.

.& The -arr%age Cere!ony a!ong -aranao* The marriage ceremon" among Maranaos is called the room, where she is kept from her groom. The audience listens to a marriage sermon given b" the imam to solemni4e the wedding. A recitation of the Cur6an was made. 0o misalettes for them, not even a 8 ikah. The bride and

groom are separated. According to Shengmarie (21%% , the bride was locked in one

service sheet but the" all seem to know their part as the wedding was well coordinated as it went through different phases (Shengmarie, 21%% . The husband was first wed to the father of the bride, a sign of assurance that he will take care of the daughter and her bride. After a few closing words, the" are united together with a white handkerchief to close the nikah. After the nikah,according to Shengmarie (21%% , the" parade towards the area where the bride is carefull" locked and the groom must look after signs of where the bride is located inside the room where she is kept. Then the groom and bride once again parades towards the stage, followed b" their entourage. The couple is then seated together up front, and pra"ers are read for their successful marriage. A AwalimaB, or a reception part" follows the ceremon" (Shengmarie, 21%% .

CHAPTER III CONC(USION AND RECO--ENDATION

Conc#u*%on Maranao is an ethnic tribe in Minadanao, referred to as the Apeople of the lakeB since the" inhabit mainl" the +ake +anao region in the southern section of Mindanao. The" are also known for their uni7ue culture and practices, which includes their traditions in establishing their marital bonds. Maranao marriages begin with a search for an appropriate partner, and ends with an agreement of marriage, the contract, and the wedding part". The solemni4ation of marriage in an" religion or in an" religion is nothing more than a legali4ation of a sexual relationship between a man and woman and the legitimi4ation of the children produced b" them. It is a foundation of societ" and famil" life. It is structured through legall" enforceable rights and duties of both parties. In an atmosphere of love and respect, these rights and duties provide a framework for the balance of famil" life and the fulfillment of both partners. Thus, marriage is a vital institution that legali4es the union of a man and a woman. Reco!!endat%on $ased on the findings of this paper, I wish to recommend that one must be reminded that marriage is not @ust about meeting of two minds or meeting of two hearts. It6s not @ust about having a grand wedding. Marriage is not @ust about the period that it has to be done merel" because time has arrived to do it. It6s not @ust about responsibilities or duties. $ut marriage is about commitment, a lifetime commitment for the two. It6s about finding more meaning in life, about looking for what life has to offer more. B%"#%ogra'hy 10

Abd al)Ati, 5ammudah. (%&** . The !amily "tructure in #slam. Indianpolis8 American Trust .ublication,. $arra, 5amid Aminoddin. (%&'' . The $ode o% &uslim 'ersonal Law( ) "tudy o% #slamic Law in the 'hilippines, .adilla .ress Iligan -it". 5uda. (n.d . #slamic &arriage. /etrieved <ctober %?, 21%2, from islam.about.comDodDmarriageDaDcontract.htm

Mohammed, Sherif. 0n.d1. *n &arriage in #slam. /etrieved <ctober %?, 21%2, from http8DDwww.@annah.orgDsisterDmarr.h

Sangalang, >anielle. (211? . &aranaw $ourtships and &arriage. /etrieved <ctober %?, 21%2, from http8DDwww.scribd.comDdocD;&%3&%&2DMaranaw)

-ourtships)and)Marriage)%Edownload

Shengmarie. (21%% . &uslim Wedding +ites. /etrieved <ctober %?, 21%2, http8DDsdumala".blogspot.comD21%%D1*Dm")first)attendance)to)muslim) wedding.html

Tamano, Salma Fa"ne A. (211& . 'romised ,ands. /etrieved <ctober %?, 21%2, from http8DDmaranaowomene.blogspot.comD211&D13Dpromised)hands.html

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-ode of Muslim .ersonal +aws of the .hilippines or /A 0o. %123

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