The Malays have a lot of traditions. And one of it being wedding traditions. They are so many traditions, events whatsoever. Part of wedding tradition is the engagement tradition. Unlike the kneel-on-one-knee proposal, the Malay engagement is very much different. There’s a ceremony.
Now, let me clarify that I am not a fan of traditions. I couldn’t care less about the traditions if its nothing related to the requirements of Islam. In Islam, when the guy or the woman agrees when asked to be married, then they’re engaged. So, there are actually people who get engaged without knowing. You can dig more about this yourself.
So, what happens in Malay engagement ceremony? From what I’ve been told, it sounds like a very awkward ceremony, pardon me. The guy’s family and relatives come to the girl’s house where they will have representatives to talk on behalf of each other’s family. This will usually be the uncle or a family friend/ dad’s friend. They are then set the date, the hantaran and mahar. Hantaran is the amount of money for the guy to give to the girl’s family to support the wedding and mahar is the amount of money for the future bride to keep. Mahar is a requirement in Islam, while hantaran is just a tradition. Hantaran is usually at least RM5000 now. Back then, it used to be atleast RM1000. Mahar min is according to states and for Selangor, it’s RM300 which is not a burden at all for most people. Anyway, them talking about the amount of money is already awkward enough.
Then, the girl. The girl will sit at a corner, or a center or in a room where she’ll have a nicely decorated mini dais to sit on, alone obviously. And awkward. I’m not sure what’s the purpose of this but I think it’s pretty much related to the hantaran (gifts) for the engagement. As if we can’t put the gifts on a table. Maybe they want to emphasize that the girl is actually receiving/accepting the gifts? I don’t know. I understand it’s somekind of appreciation for the girl, but let’s face it. It’s not the guy’s side who’s doing the mini dais thing. And if they really want to show that they appreciate the gifts, the girl’s side is already giving back an extra two gifts. and there’s food and warm welcoming. It’s not that I’m a cheapskate but isn’t that already loud and clear? While I perfectly understand the girl wanting to look pretty and all, I don’t understand the girl’s overdressing to an extend it looks like it’s for solemnization. I mean, she’s a future bride for god’s sake not a bride!
Now, I’m not sure if it’s the tradition to have the mini dais thing but according to my mum, no. It’s just a tradition CURRENTLY. More like a trend I’d say. It’s redundant in my opinion. That dais is a symbol of celebration. And personally, there is nothing to celebrate about engagement. Engagement is just a mutual agreement written or not and at the end of the day, the fiancé and fianceé are still non-mahrams. As if the girl’s so desperate that everyone got tooo happy someone would actually marry her. haha.
There are a few concerns about celebrating engagement quite too much.
First, the pressure. When things, let say, just doesn’t work out and there’s mutual agreement to break the engagement, the humiliation can be quite daunting. Family is one thing. Then there’re relatives. Friends. Non-stop. The questions could go on for half a year. It’s like salt in wound, man. haha.
Second, when couples are engaged, celebrated in such way it’s afraid that they will go overboard with the boundaries. “Oh, that’s alright, we’re engaged” so they said. But in truth, they are still non-mahrams and there are absolutely no reason for them to act like wedded couples. Kinda like subconscious psychology thing.
In conclusion, as I am not at all against the simple engagement tradition, I find ridiculous redundancy in big engagement ceremony. The amount of people invited. Canopies. The girl’s overdressing, but the guy comes in casual shirt, then the mini dais, sometimes there are also doorgifts. Flowers, flowers, flowers. I don’t know people, already looking like wedding to me. And another indisputable fact; it’s a burden to the girl’s side to prepare for the engagement.
Pardon me if I’m sounding skeptical or like a slightly nicer version of Micheal Kors criticizing bad runway show. Please know that these are all my personal opinions. Then again, who am I? I respect those who think otherwise, still.
But whatever it is, let’s hope for the best. I’m getting engaged soon and doing the preparations. I’m excited and nervous actually 🙂 Excited, well, of course I am. Nervous because this is becoming so real and I’m not sure how things are going to be.
p.s, this is the first article-like entry on my thoughts about something ever since I deleted my past entries. hah. Wow. I’m amazed with myself. harharhar.
getting engaged ?
congrats !
actually, theres no need to engage.
a man just have to marry the girl. then do anything they like !
harharharhar
thanks!
I beg to differ, in engagement we can set out the agreements. So, if one pulls out of the wedding, the other party may ask for compensation. So, engagement is necessary as to make sure they have mutual agreements.
oh seriously kalau tak jadi boleh compensate? never heard of that one before. aisyah, i beg for you to help me in every aspect when it’s finally my time! 😉
yeap! look, http://www.kpwkm.gov.my/new_index.php?page=faq_content&code=4&lang=malay
hey. you are getting engaged? so am i. but i am wondering how exactly youre doing yours?
bec i totally agree with what you said. but im confused about what to do. ideas?
Hi there,
This post was a long time ago. You may read on hmy engagement event here, https://aisyahrozi.com/engaged/
If you have further questions, just email me, I’ll try to help anyhow I can. I’ve been there and I know how confusing it may be. 🙂
Saw the dress design on your tumblr! (Tapi takde tumblr so takleh nak respond. =P ) Mesti you’re busy with the preparations. I think all traditions ade good and bad points, but since you’re already doing it, just enjoy the ride!
Barakallahu fikum!
oh yeke? mana jumpa my tumblr? lol. oh dress dah siap dah. tengah nak buat hantaran. nak kena siapkan awal cause nanti family dtg suma malas nak dgr komen2 diorg. hahah. and it’s actually quite exciting when you do things yourself.
Waw, dah siap! I don’t know mana jumpa, maybe you linked it here before? Tak ingat dah… Anyway, betul2, feels more satisfying, these DIY things. Takyah bergantung on pihak2 lain. 🙂
hahaha so true. sibuk je nak komen hantaran orang. kalau kritikan membina tak pa la jugak, ni lagi serabut je selalunya ;p
my dear yana, nanti saya nak action figure x-wing & jam swatch untuk hantaran. ok kan?
😀
jam maybe boleh. but action figure? entah la. bukan ke hantaran selalunya something boleh guna. action figure buat semak bilik kita je nanti keh3
kita letak action figure kita la. taklah semak sangat. gempak sikit. =P
something yang boleh guna? haaa..i got one. tapi tak boleh bagitahu sini. nanti saya text kamu. he he.
satu hal plak nak tempah. ngada2 seh. dah dah, jangan penuhkan komen blog orang.
bajet misteri -___-” ye ah, see you tonight pfftt ;p
jgn nak bercinta kat sini pls. hahah. mewahnya tunang pun bagi hantaran jam. takleh jadi ni. nak mintak prada kat eddie. ahahahha
omg. really? getting engaged? Congrats!
yea, i also find it too much when they put great effort in engagement. I mean, if in islamic views, an engagement should be kept secret, whereas a true marriage ceremony should be as big as possible (meaning to say, everyone should know about it). Maybe because Islam doesn’t want any sides to take the shame from people if the engagement fails.
but anyway, i hope all the best for you. 🙂
mcm x caya je Aisyah nk tunang dah. haha
bila la i dapat tengok baju tunang you 🙂 i nak tunang nanti masa his parents datang nak berkenalan je la. yang ada masa ‘ceremony’ tu his parents, mine, me & a photographer (which obviously would be any one of my siblings), and that’s that. hehe. my boyf duduk diam2 kena interview dengan my eldest brother. keh keh keh
hahahahah. lucky him you have an eldest bro as an interviewer. eddie got my dad. it was a pretty intense blunt conversation. hahah. oh jom la tengok baju tunang i. hehehe
haha tak jugak lah. saja je. mesti la dia kena pass thru my siblings then my dad. maksud i masa tunang tu dia duk diam2 kat tepi. hahaha sorok belakang pintu pun boleh ;p nak tengokkk. kena tunggu few days after my parents balik dari haji k
I wonder why bother having the engagement ceremony. If they save the money for the ceremony a bit longer and save enough then just have the wedding ceremony. 🙂
my makcik engaged for few hour before their wedding.
Some of the tradition make it hard for youngester to get married… (-_-‘)
I’m wondering the same thing too. In fact, as said by aie above, in islamic views, an engagement should be kept secret, whereas a true marriage ceremony should be as big as possible 🙂
engagement tu actually utk tempoh berkenalan sebenarnya…tradisi dari elders…
congrates…selamat menjalani zaman darah manis…
yeah true. but I’m not talking about engagement. I’m talking about the ceremony. anyway, thanks 🙂 and fyi darah I tak pernah manis. nyamuk tak gemar. haha
Huhu… sure ke engagement tu utk berkenalan… after married pun kena berkenalan juga… sbb masa bcinta dgn lepas nikah ramai yg kata pasangan mereka berubah… 🙂
in a nut shell… bercinta la selepas bernikah 😀
aisyahrozi likes this
u’re getting engaged congrats! 😀
thank you! 😀
Congrats! Kinda knew that the both of you were heading towards that path, ever since I saw the pizza post 😛
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