By Abdullahi Jamaa
His wedding day went above and beyond the wildest dreams. It was such a wonderful day filled with memories that will last a lifetime.
“We consider our wedding blessed since we had the opportunity to do it on a special day with such a style and grace” is the words of newlywed Moaow (Not his real name) as he carefully enunciates his Somali words while speaking to The Plu.
Maow and his bride cannot stop talking about how breathtaking it was to spend last year’s Iddul-Adha as they stepped on the threshold of a new beginning.
“It is Idd day, it is our wedding day, it is a radiant moment where the bestowals of Allah are appearing from all directions” he asserts.
As many newlyweds like Maow celebrate their wedding day on Idd, the reason of merging two special ceremonies into one has an understandable appeal.
The colorful wedding ceremony was in a true Somali traditional style in one end, as the call for Allah’s greatness echoed around the Muslim neighborhood in Nairobi’s Eastleigh estate.
“A wedding and an Idd all rolled into one, it is a really perfect ceremony” says Maow’s new wife Sahara
“It is a day of joy, a time of happiness, a period of spiritual growth. I pray that this day may have the fullest good impression and effect upon us” she says
Maow’s marriage has seen an uphill battle since it has taken him several twists and turns to get the wife of his choice.
A popularly Somali proverb goes “a thousand assignations one marriage” which literally means that , a Somali man seduces myriads women but he finally falls for one.
“It has not been an easy venture to make choices in marriage, but now I am done with one of the toughest assignments of my life”
Having approached countless number of women for marriage proposal, his success wasn’t due to luck; it was blood, sweat and tears all the way.
And according to him, his wedding on one of the greatest days in Islam is a testimony to a promising marriage life.
The spirit of Iddul-Adha is high and mighty among the predominantly Muslim Somali community, it is one of rare festivities where the pristine Somali traditions meets the much splendid and colorful culture of Islam.
Somalis are among one of the few remaining African communities where traditional culture and customs are largely practiced. But their way of life is still in conformity with Islam.
The Idd-cum-wedding ceremony is a blissful occasion which both the religion and local traditions had joined to create a jolly Somali-Islamic culture.
And this year like any other, the Idd festivity is important for hundreds of Somali men who are wedding in several parts of the world
“Having your wedding on Idd Day is fun and ecstasy, not everybody is fortunate to see such a combination of folk and religious strength” says Mr. Abdulrahman Mohamed, another newlywed.
“Somali marriage is more than joining two people together; it is joining of two families, two clans together. And having it on an Idd day is superbly important” he notes
Islamic teachings and traditions 
have no problem with weddings that are arranged on Idd day, as religious clerics say it is an added advantage to get a nuptial arranged on such a great day.
“For Somalis it is all about enjoying two ceremonies on one day” says Sheikh Mohamed, a Muslim Scholar in Wajir town. “Most of our culture comes from our religion; we want to remain true to our tradition and in conformity with the teachings of Islam”
And yes, for a community where mobile herding defines the way of living, every customary practice is strictly attached to pastoralism.
In a traditional setup, marriage ceremonies are usually arranged on rainy seasons when herders have converged to share the blessing of the banner season. This is the time when the rich can help the poor.
Apart from rainy seasons, traditionally, Idd day is also chosen as special day for wedding, it is this moment when Muslims families help each other and share the burden of conducting marriages.
“A Somali traditional wedding is either done on a rainy season or during Idd day” says a longtime herder Mohamed Hassan.
Newlyweds like Maow, have their hearts set on arranging their marriage ceremonies on the festivals of sacrifice-Idd.
“It is a matter sharing your happiness with the rest of the Ummah who are as well smiling with delight that comes with the day” Maow finally says
